“Don’t Take The Law Into Your Own Hands” – President Akufo-Addo To GUTA
The President assured GUTA that Government is determined to finding an amicable solution to this impasse, and “make our brothers know that the laws of the country are there to be abode whether you are a citizen or a migrant.
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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the leadership and membership of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) not to take the law into their own hands in dealing with traders from Nigeria and other nationalities engaged in retail trade.
In a meeting with the leadership of GUTA on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2019, i.e. the 2nd day of his 3-day tour of the Greater Accra Region, the President stated that “undoubtedly, the law favours GUTA's position. But, I will appeal that we live in a country where the rule of law works.”
He continued, “It is the State that interprets how the laws should be applied. People cannot take the law into their own hands, and purportedly seek to enforce it. If we tread on that line, Ghana will become ungovernable.”
Reminding the leadership of GUTA about the high numbers of Ghanaians also trading in Nigeria, the President stated that “let us not do things that may result in reprisal attacks on Ghanaians elsewhere. Not long ago, we saw and heard what happened in South Africa. It has dented their image and has caused them to lose respect in the comity of nations.”
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President Akufo-Addo, thus, urged the leadership to allow the Committee established by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service, to do its job in dealing with foreigners engaged in retail trade.
“I am hopeful that, when the Committee is allowed to proceed with their work under the ambit of the law, your issues will be looked into and abated. So, I ask of you to exercise patience,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo assured GUTA that Government is determined to finding an amicable solution to this impasse, and “make our brothers know that the laws of the country are there to be abode whether you are a citizen or a migrant. And, I will never change my views about that, but, we cannot do it with people taking the law into their own hands. That will not help any of us.”
The President was confident that “if we allow that process to work, our problems will be resolved to our mutual benefit.”
