01:06 p.m Apr 05, 1999 Eastern

ACCRA, April 5 - Ghana's Accra Brewery Limited (ABL.GH) has taken rival Guinness Ghana Limited (GGL.GH) to court accusing it of restraint of trade and unfair business practices, court sources said on Monday.

A writ, lodged with the Accra High Court before the Easter weekend holiday, claimed Guinness slotted exclusive sales clauses into deals with retailers preventing them from selling alternative packaged stout or dark beer.

Such agreements also covered non-alcoholic malt drinks, the writ added.

``The plaintiff thereby contends that the terms of the agreement are unreasonable, constitute restraint of trade, unfair business practice and are contrary to the public interest,'' it added.

Both companies are listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.