The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has raised concerns over the growing presence of Chinese-owned shopping malls in Ghana’s retail sector, estimating that the businesses now control about 60 per cent of the market. Its president, Clement Boateng, has called on the authorities to investigate their operations, warning that the expansion could undermine locally owned businesses and affect the domestic economy.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express Business Edition on November 5, 2026 Mr Boateng said some of the malls were springing up within traditional markets, raising questions about compliance with Ghana’s investment and trading regulations. He argued that profits generated by foreign-owned businesses could be repatriated, unlike earnings retained by locally owned enterprises.
His concerns come amid existing restrictions reserving certain retail activities for Ghanaians. GUTA has also appealed for banks to extend repayment periods for traders facing shipping delays, with consignments from the UAE reportedly taking three to four months to arrive instead of the expected 45 to 60 days.
The growing presence of Chinese-owned shopping malls and retail outlets in Ghana’s traditional markets raises legitimate questions about the enforcement of the country’s investment and trading regulations. The concerns raised by GUTA must not be dismissed as another complaint by local traders about foreign competition. The Chronicle believes they deserve a thorough and impartial investigation.
GUTA President Clement Boateng estimates that Chinese-owned malls now account for about 60 per cent of the retail market. While this figure has not been independently verified, the scale of the alleged expansion, particularly into traditional markets, warrants serious attention from the relevant authorities.
Ghana has laws governing foreign participation in the retail trade. The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has previously clarified that open markets, small shops and kiosks are reserved for Ghanaians, while foreign investors may participate in malls and supermarkets subject to applicable legal requirements.
The question, therefore, is whether these businesses are operating within the boundaries of the law. Government cannot make investment restrictions on paper and then fail to enforce them in practice. If foreign-owned businesses are operating in spaces reserved for Ghanaian traders, the appropriate authorities must establish how this is happening and take the necessary action.
The Chronicle is particularly concerned about reports that some of these shopping malls are springing up within existing markets, where thousands of Ghanaian traders struggle to earn a living. Local businesses already contend with high operating costs, limited access to affordable credit, taxation and other structural challenges. Allowing unfair competition or regulatory violations to go unchecked could further weaken their ability to survive.
There is also the broader economic question of profit repatriation. While foreign investment is important for economic growth, employment and access to goods, its benefits must be assessed alongside its impact on local enterprise and domestic value creation. Ghana must attract investment without sacrificing opportunities for its own citizens.
We, therefore, call on President John Dramani Mahama to take a keen interest in this matter and direct the relevant institutions, particularly the GIPC, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and the Ghana Revenue Authority to investigate the allegations. The investigation should establish the ownership, registration, licensing, locations and nature of operations of the malls, as well as their compliance with tax and investment requirements.
This should not become an exercise in hostility towards Chinese nationals or legitimate foreign investors. The issue is compliance with Ghanaian law, not nationality. Every investor, regardless of origin, must play by the same rules.
The Chronicle believes Ghanaian traders deserve a fair opportunity to compete in their own country. Government must demonstrate that protecting local enterprise is more than a policy statement. It must be reflected in effective regulation and enforcement.
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