President John Dramani Mahama has restated that Ghana’s retail trade is legally the preserve of citizens, stressing that foreign nationals are not permitted to operate in this segment of the economy.

Addressing journalists at a media interaction on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, President Mahama noted:

“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 comments come in the wake of a three-day ultimatum issued by the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, demanding that foreign traders withdraw from the retail space and restrict themselves strictly to wholesale activity.

Tensions rose on Monday, 8 September, when executives of the Association embarked on an enforcement exercise at the Abossey Okai spare parts hub.

The exercise involved identifying retail shops operated by foreigners in contravention of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act, which reserves retail trading exclusively for Ghanaians.

Some foreign traders, anticipating confrontation, shut down their shops ahead of the Association’s action.

Security personnel were deployed to maintain calm in the area as local traders pressed for stricter enforcement of the law.