Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers to Enforce GIPC Law Against Foreign Traders
The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has announced its intention to begin a strict enforcement exercise of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act, 2013 (Act 865), starting Monday, September 8, 2025.
Benjamen Takyi Addo – Director of Communications for the Association
In a press statement issued today and signed by Mr. Benjamen Takyi Addo, Director of Communications for the Association the group expressed concern over the increasing participation of non-Ghanaians in petty trading activities within the Abossey Okai business enclave.
The statement cited Section 27(1) of the GIPC Act, which 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.
According to the Association, despite the clarity of the law, there has been widespread non-compliance with foreign nationals actively engaging in petty trading, particularly in local markets and stalls.
The Association stressed that the continued violation of this provision has significantly affected the livelihoods of Ghanaian traders and eroded the foundations of local entrepreneurship.
Successive governments have failed to ensure full enforcement of this Act, resulting in a persistent drain on the businesses of Ghanaian traders, the statement said.
It further emphasized that the Association’s actions are not targeted at foreign investment in general but are meant to safeguard the interests of local businesses within the legal framework of the country.
The Association is calling on all relevant stakeholders especially government agencies and regulatory bodies to collaborate and support the initiative. It described the exercise as a necessary step to ensure compliance with the law and to restore fairness in the local trading environment.
We wish to emphasize that our Association is 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 the statement added.
The enforcement exercise is set to begin on Monday, September 8, 2025. The Association has not detailed the specific actions it will take but has hinted at a robust effort to ensure that only legally qualified persons operate in the local trading space.
This development is expected to stir national debate, especially among trade unions, policymakers and foreign nationals engaged in retail activities across the country.
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