KMA orders GUTA to halt closure of shops owned by foreigners

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has directed the Ghana Union of Traders Association to stop locking up shops owned by foreign nationals as discussions continue on how to settle ongoing tensions in the city’s retail sector.

The instruction followed a closed-door meeting held to calm rising frustrations between local traders and their foreign counterparts.

In a statement shared after the meeting, Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi acknowledged the concerns expressed by GUTA, which believes that foreign traders are increasingly taking over spaces reserved for local retailers under Ghana’s trade regulations.

He assured the group that the Assembly is committed to finding a fair and lasting solution that protects the interests of local traders while maintaining order in the metropolis.

The Mayor appealed to the leadership of GUTA to focus on dialogue and cooperation while the authorities work toward enforcement that is both lawful and peaceful.

“The matters raised need the collective involvement of state institutions so we can resolve them without conflict,” he said.

To address the long-standing dispute, the Assembly has set up a multi-agency committee made up of representatives from the Immigration Service, Customs Division of the GRA, the Police Service, the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, the KMA and GUTA.

The team will investigate concerns, monitor compliance and guide enforcement efforts in line with Ghana’s trade laws.

For the moment, the Assembly is advising all foreign nationals involved in retail business to voluntarily step aside from the sector by December 9, 2025, to avoid forceful removal when joint operations begin.