President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, says Ghana is losing millions of dollars in foreign direct investments to dishonesty, corruption and thievery.

Though Ghana outperformed Nigeria to be a preferred destination in West Africa for investment, Dr. Obeng remarks that foreign investors are being shortchanged by crude Ghanaian workers and business agents absconding with their funds.

“Each week, I get disturbing calls from these foreign nationals about how they are being duped by a chunk of Ghanaian workers from the ports to the markets. Many of these investors, who have eyed million-dollar projects are folding up and exploring markets elsewhere,” he told Joy Business.

Not holding a brief for foreign companies in Ghana, Dr. Obeng asserts that many jobs preserved for Ghanaians in the informal sector are being taken over by foreign nationals due to a lack of trust.

“Today, jobs that Ghanaians have a preserve over have been taken over by foreign nationals. GUTA took it upon ourselves to investigate and we have realized this is because many Ghanaian workers literally steal and cheat these foreigners,” Dr. Obeng remarked.

Meanwhile, Dr. Obeng has called for a reorientation of Ghana’s informal sector labour force on professionalism, productivity and skills acquisition.

He fears that until this is achieved, foreign-owned businesses will continue looking outside for their labour because of a lack of faith and skill.