The Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Associations, (GUTA), has asked all store and warehouse operators in Kumasi to with, immediate effect, stop the payment of Licenses and Fees to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, (KMA), or its agents until further notice.
The directive is meant to compel the city authorities to meet with the GUTA and other interested parties to negotiate the most appropriate operating licenses and fees to be paid by the store and warehouse operators without kicking them out of business.
Speaking to Radio Ghana in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of GUTA, Albert Mensah Offei, described as unacceptable the astronomical increase in the yearly fees of 200 Ghana Cedis to One thousand 500 Ghana Cedis for stores while that for warehouse from 400 Ghana Cedis to two thousand Ghana Cedis.
Mr. Offei who spoke with Radio Ghana’s Correspondent, Nicholas Osei-Wusu said even though GUTA is aware of the legal right of the Assembly to fix fees and license for various business operations every year, the resolution cannot be taken without seeking the imput of major stakeholders and that several overtures made by the Association through the Chairman of the Regional Security Council have not yielded the required reaponse from the KMA.
Mr. Offei warned, that GUTA will strongly resist any attempt by the Assembly to use force to compel payment of the new fees.
