Giant supermarket, Melcom and Koala have open their shops for business this morning after closing their shops Tuesday in solidarity with striking traders.
President of the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA), George Ofori, said the two supermarkets joined them to send a clear message to the government to take their concerns serious.
He said they will keep the shops closed in the central business district of Accra for the intended three days.
Myjoyonline checks at the shops of the two supermarkets revealed business has resumed with buyers busily shopping.
Over hundred unionized traders led by the Joint Private Sector Business Consultative Forum made up of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA), Food and Beverages Importers Association, Ghana Automobile Distributors Association (GADA), Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Freight Forwarders Association and the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana began a three-day protest over tax and tariff hikes in the country.
Also, the traders said they are not happy with the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, which came into force on February 1.
The tariff seeks to promote the creation of a common market and open up the sub-region for intra-Africa trade.
However, the traders say these tariffs will cripple their businesses if the government does not review them.
The government met leaders of the protesting traders on Tuesday to address their concerns but Ofori said it was not conclusive.
“We will open our shops for business if the right results come out”, he said.
Meanwhile, Joy Business has it that some tabletop sellers have taken the opportunity of the situation to charge buyers exorbitant prices.
Some striking wholesale shop owners said the government would lose if the strike should continue because it will have to forego its taxes, tariff and SSNIT charges.
By Austin Brako-Powers
