By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Stores at the Central business district of Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, have re-opened for business, today, Friday October 14, 2022, according to GBCGHANAONLINE Regional Correspondent, Nicholas Osei-Wusu.
Some operators had opened their businesses as early as 7am with customers already patronizing their wares.
At the time of visit, Adum, the hub of stores, business operators were trickling in one after the other.
Workers whose job security were on the line following the almost one-week strike had also reported to post busily serving the few customers who were already available.
One of the male Store Operators, who spoke to GBCGHANAONLINE on condition of anonymity, said the protest was suspended to allow for a planned meeting with the Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah today.
According to him, outcome of the meeting would greatly determine the next line of action regarding the concerns raised.
An Executive Member of the Adum Business Association, Appiah-Kubi, in an interview also confirmed that the suspension of the strike is a show of respect to the Asantehemaa after she had pleaded with the store operators at a meeting at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, to take a break and attend the meeting convened by the Regional Minister.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi emphasized that the Association is not the least perturbed about the losses during the period of the closure. Instead, their pleasure stems from the fact that they have proven to the government that they can no longer be taken for granted and that members will continue to put the government on its toe.
According to him, they are proud of the sacrifices they have made for business sustainability in the region and therefore commended the store operators for their resolve to ensure their concerns are brought to the limelight.
Since Monday October 10, 2022, stores at Adum in Kumasi were closed in protest by the operators against what they considered to be unfriendly tax policies by the government.
The Store Operators protested the move by the Ghana Revenue Authority, GRA, revenue mobilization body, which had deployed its staff to stay at the stores to take records of sales to determine the actual tax obligations of the business owners which they claim exposed them to safety and security risks.
