The Ministry of Trade and Industry, together with other state agencies, have locked up shops of foreigners who engage in retail business without documents at Suame Magazine in the Ashanti Region.
The exercise which took place Tuesday, August 25, 2020 was undertaken by a combined team from the Trade Ministry, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and Ghana Police Service.
In all, 41 shops within the Suame Magazine market were placed under lock and key by the task force, including some Ashanti Regional GUTA executives, between 10AM and 3PM on Tuesday.
A notice from the task force on one of the locked shops read as follows, “this shop has been locked by a team of Public Regulatory Institutions for non-compliance with the business operating requirements”.
The notice further directed the affected persons to regularize and present their business operating documents to the Ministry of Trade and Industry for clearance.
Owners of the locked-up shops were also warned to desist from reopening their shops without following due process.
According to the notice, persons who attempt to tamper with the locks on their shops would be dealt with.
“Please note that any attempt to tamper with this notice, the padlocks or any public property applied to your shop without following due process will attract further sanctions”, the notice stated.
Angel news checks reveal that the task force will continue the operation on Wednesday.
