Ghanaian authorities warn against illegal foreign retail trade

The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has warned local traders against acting as fronts for foreign nationals attempting to operate in retail sectors reserved for Ghanaian citizens. GUTA President Clement Boateng stated that while the association does not oppose foreign investment, it opposes participation that bypasses legal frameworks, noting that fronting creates a gap between legal ownership on paper and actual economic control.

In response, Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, reaffirmed the government's commitment to attracting legitimate foreign investment while strictly enforcing laws that reserve retail trading for Ghanaians. The Minister emphasized that under the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865), foreign investors are encouraged to focus on sectors such as manufacturing and agribusiness rather than competing with local micro and small enterprises.

This stance follows a joint monitoring exercise in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi conducted by the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPC), GUTA, and the Nigeria Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) to address tensions in the retail trading space.