President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that Ghana’s retail trade sector is legally reserved for citizens, emphasizing that foreign nationals are not permitted to engage in this aspect of the economy.
Speaking at a media interaction on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, the President stated:
“The current law restricts the retail sector to only Ghanaians, and there are people who argue that it is anti-competition and so many other things. But of course, in most countries, you want to reserve a certain portion of the economy for the people. And so Parliament is going to look at it, and eventually, whatever law they pass is what we have to live with.”
His remarks follow a three-day ultimatum issued by the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, calling on foreign traders to withdraw from the retail market and restrict their activities to wholesale trade.
Tensions escalated on Monday, 8 September, when executives of the Association carried out an enforcement exercise at the Abossey Okai spare parts hub. The operation sought to identify retail shops run by foreigners in violation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act, which reserves retail trading exclusively for Ghanaians.
In anticipation of potential clashes, some foreign shop owners shut down their businesses ahead of the exercise. Security personnel were later deployed to maintain order as local traders pressed for stricter enforcement of the law.
