BY Daniel Bampoe
The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has announced a new move to clamp down on foreigners engaging in retail trading at the country’s largest spare parts hub.
Starting Monday, September 8, 2025, the Association says it will begin enforcing compliance with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act, 2013 (Act 865), which reserves petty trading and market activities for Ghanaians.
The Law and Its Provisions
At the centre of the Association’s action is Section 27(1) of the GIPC Act, which clearly states: “A person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by a citizen shall not invest or participate in the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place.”
Despite this provision, many foreign nationals, particularly from West African and Asian countries, continue to operate shops and engage in retail trading at Abossey Okai and other commercial centres.
Local traders argue that this not only violates the law but also threatens their livelihoods by creating unfair competition.
Longstanding Concern
The issue of foreign participation in the retail sector has been a long-running source of tension between Ghanaian traders and immigrant entrepreneurs.
Successive governments have repeatedly pledged to enforce the law, yet full compliance has remained elusive.
In 2020, similar clashes occurred when local traders attempted to lock up shops belonging to foreign nationals, pasrticularly Nigerians, sparking diplomatic concerns between Ghana and its trading partners.
For many Ghanaian retailers, particularly in Abossey Okai, the situation has worsened over the years, with foreigners dominating sectors meant to be protected for locals.
The Association insists this trend undermines indigenous businesses and weakens the foundation of local entrepreneurship.
Association’s Position
In a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Takyi Addo, the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association stressed that its actions are not motivated by hostility toward foreign investors.
Instead, the Association emphasized that while Ghana welcomes foreign investment, such investments must comply with national laws.
“We are not against foreign investment in Ghana. Indeed, no country can develop without the valuable contributions of foreign partners.
However, such investment must respect the laws of our land, particularly those regulating trade and commerce,” the statement read.
Call For State Support
The Association has urged state institutions, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, and local government authorities, to support its enforcement exercise.
It believes that coordinated action is necessary to protect the integrity of Ghanaian traders and safeguard the future of indigenous businesses.
