THE NEWS EDITOR

28TH NOVEMBER, 2019

PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE GHANA UNION OF TRADRS’
ASSOCIATIONS (GUTA) IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE
ISSUED BY THE NIGERIA UNION OF TRADERS ASSOCIATION GHANA
(NUTAG) ON 26TH NOVEMBER, 2019.

GUTA takes cognizance of the fact that the world is now a global village and as a
result, respect free movement of people, goods and services across countries.
GUTA also acknowledges the fact that there are international treaties and
protocols.
Despite all these facts, civilized nations all over the world have used their
immigration and other internal laws to guard and guide the activities of both
migrants and citizens and it is for this reason that GUTA persist in calling on the
governments of Ghana and Nigeria to enforce their local laws and ensure peace
and security in their respective countries.
GUTA is a very responsible and reputable organization known worldwide and, as a
result, conducts its activities in a civilized manner.
It is, therefore very sad and unfortunate for NUTAG to describe GUTA members as
thugs in their press conference. Members of GUTA are not only very civilized but
also much enlightened, right thinking and well meaning, who will not stoop so low
and resort to the use of foul language. However, it is important to mention that the
behaviour and conduct of NUTAG in effect has closed all possible avenues of dialog
with GUTA.
It may interest NUTAG to also know that GUTA had had direct engagements with
some Nigerian Ministers of state and high commissioners in the past.
Ghana as a sovereign state has her investment law, which is not being enforced
over the past twenty years and all that GUTA has been calling for is to enforce the
law to the letter, which of course, is our inalienable right as sovereign citizens of
Ghana.
It is important to know that this law is not in contradiction with any international
treaty or protocol, more especially the ECOWAS protocol, which some Nigerian
traders led by National Association of Nigeria Traders and NUTAG contested at the
ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and lost.
Find attached the publication to that effect for your perusal.
Having come to the realization of this fact, these Nigerian traders in Ghana are still
obstinately determined to flout our laws with impunity and always citing the same
ECOWAS protocol as their base, which indeed is untenable.
The ECOWAS protocol has severally been disregarded and abused by Nigeria as a
member state by shortlisting about forty-five (45) products from the ECOWAS trade
liberalization scheme (ETLS), she closed her borders with other ECOWAS member
countries and repatriate other ECOWAS citizens, all in the name of protecting her
local industries and jobs for her citizens as a way of ensuring security of their state.
This, therefore, does not make the ECOWAS protocol sacrosanct, let alone merit
any referral.
The utter confusion in the minds of these Nigerian traders association in Ghana is
the fact that at one time, they insist that they have the right to do business in Ghana
under the ECOWAS protocol and at another time, plead with our government to
relax the GIPC law for them.
They have also stated that there had been a statement issued that ECOWAS citizens
are not among those that are asked to move away from the market place.

With all due respect, it is important for GUTA to educate NUTAG that it is not within
the purview of any person to verbally issue such a statement as it is an act of
parliament.
NUTAG alleges that GUTA has taken the law into her own hands to enforce it. On
the contrary, GUTA wishes to state herein that GUTA has always been with the law
and the law has always been with GUTA due to the following:
1. This is manifested in the GIPC law which is very clear on its mandate
 2. The pieces of evidence numbering over five hundred (500) of recalcitrant
foreigners including many Nigerians who have had infractions of the law,
have been submitted to the attorney general’s department, Ghana
immigration service, Ghana police service etc.

This assertion can be attested to by the inter-agency task force that was
setup by the government to check the activities of foreigners in retail trade.

3. The ruling by ECOWAS community court of justice itself has vindicated GUTA.

The action of GUTA as the direct victims of the constant/continual abuse of

the law that seeks to protect their territory can therefore, not be said to be
unlawful.

Laws are made and enforced mainly to ensure compliance, order, peace and
security in every civilized society. Any person or group of persons who deliberately
flouts the laws of a host country is breaching the peace and security of that country
and should therefore be held responsible for causing trouble. All great minds know
this fact.
GUTA is emphatically blaming the appropriate state institutions charged with the
responsibility of enforcing the law to ensure peace and security.

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