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Nigerian traders in Ghana recount ordeal as Gbajabiamila intervenes
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Nigerian traders in Ghana have again recounted their ordeal in the hands of Ghanaian authorities as they strive to earn their living in the neighbouring West African country.
No less than 250 shops owned by Nigerians in Ghana are said to have been shut by government of Ghana, over a hostile state policy that imposed the payment of $1 million trade registration fees, on each shop owner before they could operate.
The Nigerian government had described the action which was beginning to strain the cordial relationship between the two neighbours as disguised Xenophobia.
“Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana.
“But indications, especially in recent times, are that Nigeria’s stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule.
“This will no longer be tolerated under any guise,” Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, fumed in a recent statement.
The leader of the Nigerian traders in Ghana, Chief Chukwuemeka Levi Nnaji, informed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who led a team of Nigerian legislators to Ghana on Wednesday, in what was termed “legislative diplomacy”, that while many Nigerian traders could not afford the latest $1million trade registration fees, those that paid still had their shops under lock and key.
READ: https://reliablesourceng.com/ghana-insists-on-1m-registration-for-nigerian-traders/
Spokesman of Nigeria’s House of Reps, Hon Benjamin Kalu, who was on the Speaker’s delegate, in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle said the leadership of the House met with the Nigerian Union of Traders in Ghana and select stakeholders at the Nigerian High Commission, Accra.
“It was a chance for us to hear from the traders about their experiences,” Kalu explained.
Quoting the leader of the Nigerian traders, Kalu said: “It has become very necessary for us to bring to bear the concept of legislative diplomacy for fruitful results and I am hopeful that Nigeria and Ghana will arrive at mutually acceptable resolutions to the trade disputes that erupted some weeks back.
“With about 250 shops locked up by the authorities, the situation has led to the death of some of their members. He appealed to the Speaker to ensure that the resolutions arrived at are implemented by the Ghanaian authorities.”