The shops will close on Wednesday, October 19 for the duration of the strike, which is expected to last until Sunday, October 27.
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) directed all its members to close down shops in Accra.
They are protesting the high cost of doing business in Ghana as a result of the economic meltdown.
They assert that most traders find it challenging to stay in business as a result of the depreciation of the local currency, the Cedi, in relation to the US dollar.
“It is obvious that we cannot contain these challenges any longer as they are becoming increasingly challenging,” GUTA National President Dr Joseph Obeng told journalists on Tuesday, October 18, after the meeting.
“We want to send a hint to the government to recognize that there is a sense of urgency in this situation.” On this note, by the power vested in me by the trading community, I declare that all shops in Greater Accra will be closed [Wednesday] till Monday.”
This comes after the closing of stores in the Ashanti Region’s central business district last week. The traders there were opposing the e-VAT system that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) had implemented.
The Ashanti Kingdom’s Queen mother, Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom II, had to step in to defuse the situation.
