President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cautioned Ghanaian traders against taking the law into their hands under the guise of enforcing laws governing retail trade.
He advised the traders, led by the leadership of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), to continue to engage and dialogue with various stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem.
The President acknowledged that the law governing retail trade was in favour of GUTA, but said “we are in a country where we want the rule of law to work” and reminded the traders that the enforcement of the law was the responsibility of the government and not individuals.
He said the problem could be solved through engagement and dialogue, without breaking the law, and appealed to the leadership of GUTA to have control over its members.
The President gave the caution when he addressed a durbar of traders, including the executive and members of GUTA, at Okaishie in Accra yesterday as part of his three-day working tour of the Greater Accra Region.
Responding to concerns raised by the leadership of GUTA about the activities of the Meridian Port Services (MPS) at the Tema Port, the President expressed surprise at the claim by GUTA that there had been an astronomical increase in tariffs by the MPS, saying: “We have to go into it, find out and get back to you.”
Explaining further, he said the original contract between the country and the MPS, which was signed by the previous government, entailed a 20 per cent increase in tariffs, out of which nine per cent had already been implemented, while the rest was being dealt with.
He further assured the traders that the issue concerning a task force at the port would be dealt with.
Source:Fiilafmonline/Graphic
