The directive by the Ghana Union of Traders Associations(GUTA) to its members to close down all shops in Accra from Wednesday, October 19, has been described by the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana(TAGG) as something that will rather “worsen the plight of traders” in the country.
Therefore, TAGG has asked shop owners to defy the directives by GUTA and open their shops with the hope that the cedi and inflation will stabilise.
The TAGG Secretary, Nana Poku, acknowledged economic challenges in the country but pointed out that shop closures would not offer a better solution.
At a meeting on Wednesday, Nana Poku advised traders to “keep their shops open to keep body and soul together”.
“We still have to feed our children and bear all responsibilities in spite of the hardship in the country. Even with our shops open, we cannot do so effectively, so what then happens if we shut down?” Nana Poku queried.
Meanwhile, TAGG is urging its members to “continue to wear red armbands, wearing red and black clothes and put red banners in front of their shops to indicate that, indeed, the economy is not going on well as they wished”.
The traders decided to embark on the protest after GUTA President Dr. Joseph Obeng held a meeting with the Council of State on Tuesday in Accra to discuss the current woes faced by traders.
According to GUTA, the government has failed to find solutions to the depreciation of the cedi, inflation rate, lending rate, and cost of fuel in the country.
He said these impact business and consequently increase the cost of living.