By: Razak Baba
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah has drawn a road map to settle the impasse between the Ghana Revenue Authority and aggrieved traders in Kumasi.
This was after a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the various traders’ Associations in Kumasi.
The Minister commended them for calling off the strike and assured them that their grievances would be channeled to the appropriate quarters for redress.
The aggrieved traders made up of members of Traders Advocacy Group Ghana, Ghana Union of Traders Association and Ashanti Business Owners Association embarked on a week long strike to press home their demand for the reduction of a six percent business levy, stationing of GRA staff at offices to ensure tax compliance and the immediate halting of the rapid depreciation of the Cedi.
The leadership of the traders’ groups today held a closed-door meeting with the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei- Mensah to table their grievances before the Minister.
The leadership raised myriad of issues adversely affecting their businesses and urged the Government through the Minister to urgently address them.
According to the traders, they are ready for dialogue with the Government on the way forward. The Ashanti Regional Chairman of GUTA, Mr. Anthony Oppong was optimistic that outcome of the meeting with the Regional Minister will be fruitful.
The Executive Secretary of the Adum Business Association, Mr. Charles Kusi Appiah-Kubi, in an interview with GBCNews after the closed-door meeting confirmed that the suspension of the strike is a show of respect to pleadings from Asantehemaa.
He expressed hope that their engagement with the Regional Minister would address teething challenges confronting members.
Meanwhile, the Regional Minister Mr. Simon Osei- Mensah has directed the GRA in the interim to withdraw their officers, while efforts are made to address the issues raised by the traders.
