The Ghana Union of Traders' Associations (GUTA) has called for an investigation into the rapid growth of Chinese-owned shopping malls, claiming they are taking up about 60% of the market and putting local traders under pressure.

GUTA President, Clement Boateng, said the expansion of the malls, including into established trading centres, had become a major concern for Ghanaian businesses despite signs of improvement in the economy.

Speaking on JoyNews, he noted that positive economic indicators should translate into improved business conditions for traders.

However, he said competition from the growing number of Chinese-owned malls was putting local operators under significant pressure.

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“These Chinese shopping malls are springing up, and these shopping malls are taking about 60 per cent of our market share, and we think it is having a very negative impact as far as local businesses are concerned,” he said.

Boateng urged the relevant authorities to investigate the malls’ operations and assess the impact of their growing presence on Ghanaian-owned businesses.

He also raised concerns about the repatriation of profits, arguing that supporting local traders would help ensure that more of the revenue generated through trade remained in the country.

“These Chinese malls will repatriate their profits away. But if businesses, local businesses are doing well, definitely all the monies will remain here,” he said.

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GUTA’s concerns highlight the challenges facing local traders, who may not benefit fully from improving economic conditions amid growing competition from foreign-owned retail businesses.

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