Suame Spare Part Dealers Lock Out Nigerian Retailers

Some members of the Suame Spare Parts Dealers Association have locked
up shops belonging to Nigerian retailers at the Suame Magazine in
Kumasi.
The group went round the Suame Magazine trader’s enclave asking the Nigerian traders to vacate their shops.

This follows a protest by members of the Ghana Union of Traders
Association (GUTA) who closed their shops in Kumasi to register their
displeasure over the influx of foreigners into retail trade in the
country.

The Suame Magazine, located in Kumasi is recognized as the largest
industrialized area with many workshops for metal engineering and
vehicle repairs in Ghana, employing about 200,000 workers.

It is also recognized as the largest artisan engineering center in Sub-Saharan Africa.
By law, the sale of goods and provision of services in the market,
petty trading, hawking, taxi services, operation of beauty salons and
barbering shops are the sole preserve of Ghanaians therefore,
non-Ghanaians or non-citizens cannot operate in that market.

A Nigerian retailer whose shop was locked up said a group of people
stormed his shop and asked his workers to “go out go out we want to lock
up the place”.
He said he had no choice but to allow them considering their number.

Contrary to reports by members of the Association that they were
doing business illegally the Nigerian said, he was duly registered and
has documents to support his business.
He however pleaded with members of the association to give him some time to relocate if they insist that he leaves.

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