The Abbossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association in the Greater Accra Region has issued a warning that it may close down foreign-owned shops in the community if their operators fail to attend a scheduled meeting to deliberate on the impact of import duties on business operations.

The Association’s Chairman, Mr. Henry Okyere, voiced strong concerns about the growing strain on local businesses, blaming the activities of table-top operators for eroding their market share and threatening the survival of established dealers.

He revealed that all foreign shops will be closed down by September  1 for the onward engagement of the foreigners in the retail space.

For now, we don't know whether the foreigners are doing wholesaling or retailing, he stressed. He said these measures are intended to safeguard the retail space from being taken over by foreigners    

The General Secretary, Mrs. Gifty Lovelace Fianu, made an urgent appeal to the government to intervene on the issue of import duties.

She explained that while the dollar exchange rate had recently depreciated, import duties had not been revised accordingly, creating a significant financial burden on players in the spare parts industry.

Mrs. Fianu stressed that immediate action was needed to prevent further hardship for businesses and to safeguard jobs within the sector.

The Association has vowed to intensify its push for reforms, warning that failure by authorities to address their concerns could lead to heightened tensions in the spare parts hub.