Don’t blame GUTA for high prices of goods but GRA – Western Region GUTA Chairman – Skyy Power FM

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has demanded that the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, apologize to the organization’s members for suggesting that traders exploit Ghanaians and have no moral right to complain about taxes.

GUTA branded the Bekwai MP as arrogant, ignorant, and disrespectful in a sharply worded statement, and reminded the MP that traders have no choice but to sell products at high costs due to the government’s many levies.

Mr Osei-Owusu is reported to have said in an interview with Oyerepa TV that GUTA members “are always talking about taxes, and yet they are over-exploiting Ghanaians, and I’m saying this without fear.”

But GUTA in its response said its members are patriotic and honest and do not take advantage of their customers.

The Western Regional GUTA Chairman, Mr Paa Paying added that GUTA is not to be blamed but the Ghana Revenues Authority customs division.

He said, “A larger percentage of the goods imported into the country is by foreigners, when these goods arrive at the Ghana ports, why don’t the customs officers examine the products by opening and comparing if it tallies with what is on the invoice before they are cleared, he shouldn’t blame GUTA but the customs division… however, GUTA has advised it, members, to reduce prices of goods.”

He further added that GUTA only imports a small portion of the percentage of goods into the country, the large percentage of goods imported into the country are by foreigners, hence the locals do not control prices in the market.

Mr Paying added” Ghana only imports 16%-20% of the goods in our Ghanaian market, the rest are imported by Nigerians, Indians, Chinese, Lebanese and other nationals. We have raised several concern on this issue but we have been ignored, if the prices of goods in the market is high, it’s not the fault of GUTA but these foreign importers.”

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