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Police warn traders against acts of violence during strike

The Accra Regional Police Command has warned all businesses who have declared a 3-day strike which includes closing of shops from today, Monday, February 29 to exercise their rights of protest within the confines of the law.
 
 

According to the police, the aggrieved traders should conduct themselves in a manner that will not call for 'police intervention'.

Nineteen business associations have resolved to close down all their shops from Monday, February 29 to Wednesday, March 2, 2016 to protest what they call “killer taxes” imposed by the government.

According to the business associations, the protest is also aimed at putting pressure on the government to review certain trade policies which are unfavourable to business.

All importers have also been directed to halt any process of clearing their goods at the ports during the three-day strike.

But, a statement signed by the Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afia Tenge said the Police "wish to caution against acts which may be targeted at forcibly closing shops of individuals who are not in favour of the strike action; since such actions borders on illegalities and the infringement of the rights of persons, which the Police will react to appropriately.

"The Police will consequently urge the general public to undertake their activities freely within the period and beyond, as sufficient police officers will be deployed in the capital to maintain law and order in accordance with our Constitutional mandate," the statement added.

The business associations to embark on the strike include the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ghana Automobile Dealers Association, the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana and the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).

The rest are the Importers and Exporters Association, the Ghana Pharmaceutical Chamber, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Customs Brokers Association of Ghana and the Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana.

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