President of the Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng has slammed Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin for stating that the government of Ghana had resolved to review the capital requirement for trading enterprises under the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013(Act 865).
Speaking to Kwabena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, the furious GUTA President said the Speaker have no powers to make such pronouncements.
The Speaker has assured the Nigerian Parliament that Nigeria and Ghana are to work together to resolve the trade impasse between the two countries.
He said this when he addressed the Nigerian House of Representatives last week Wednesday.
In his speech, Mr Bagbin said he had set up a seven-member committee on the Ghana-Nigeria relationship.
”In furtherance of that, under my leadership, the Parliament of Ghana has appointed a seven-member committee as Ghana’s delegation to the Joint Committee of Eminent Persons of our Legislatures. They will interact with their Nigerian counterparts towards passing the “Ghana-Nigeria Friendship Act,” he said.
“The Act will set up the proposed “Ghana-Nigeria Business Council”, which is intended to provide the legal and institutional framework to sustain the continued friendship and business interests of our people. I am particularly glad to indicate that they are with me on this trip and are ready to engage with their counterparts towards realizing the intentions expressed in the Act.”
Reacting Dr. Joseph Obeng noted that the Speaker of Parliament insulted the by claiming that some opportunists have taken advantage of the current law to do things anyhow.
”Why should he insult us? Why should the Speaker of Parliament insult Ghanaians? It is not fair,” he said.
”The Speaker of Parliament is not the President of Ghana, and it is not in the purview of any single individual to review that law. The People of Ghana like that law. Ghanaians must be in unionism in rejecting that law. The comments by the Speaker does not augur well for Ghana. It would send a wrong single to other neighbouring countries. He has destroyed all the gains made in the past over our trade impasse.”
”What authority did he have? Did he consult traders before maintaining such reckless comments? The President of the Republic has not even made such reckless comments. He did not act in a responsible manner.”
