Okonkwo Samuel
The Federal Government on Friday, expressed deep concern over the incessant harassment of Nigerian citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian Authorities and warned that such will no longer be tolerated. In a press statement signed by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the government deeply frowned at various acts of hostility towards Nigeria and Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities which include seizure of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years, demolition of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana, closure of shops belonging to Nigerians, Residency Permit requirements, for which the Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service which include the compulsory Non-citizen ID card (US$120, and US$60 for yearly renewal); Medical examinations including for Covid-19 which is newly-introduced (about US$120), and payment for residency permit (US$400 compared to the N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria), outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, media war against Nigerians in Ghana, and harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians.
According to the statement, even though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana and 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. Nigerian government further maintained that such wicked acts will no longer be tolerated and appealed to its citizens resident in Ghana to remain law abiding and avoid engaging in self help, despite their ordeal.
The Federal Government intervention came after the Nigerian Senate adopted a motion sponsored by the Senator representing Anambra South, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah on the closure of over six hundred Nigerian shops and businesses in Ghana. Presenting the Motion on Tuesday December 17, 2019, Senator Ubah called for an urgent investigation to the alleged ill treatment and injustices suffered by Nigerian businesses and traders in Ghana. The Anambra South Senator emphatically reminded the Senate that Ghana and Nigeria as member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have reciprocal obligations under the ECOWAS protocol to their respective citizens to reside and do business within their territories without molestation. He further stated that as at the end of 2010, Nigerian businesses accounted for 60% of foreign investments in Ghana from the African continent. Senator Ubah who is also the National Leader of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), also expressed worries over the fact that the once flourishing economic relations between Nigeria and Ghana has come under repeated threats as a result of recent hostile posture of Ghanaian authorities and indigenous Ghanaian Traders Union towards Nigerian traders. Being aware that Nigeria and Ghana had previously set up a Joint Task Force from the Trade Ministries of the two countries to inspect business facilities of companies registered under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) in both countries and both organized an Economic Summit in Accra in 2010 in order to address the dangers of the above mentioned threats to the business interests of Nigerians in Ghana, the Senator expressed displeasure over the reality that the above measures and protection offered Nigerian traders under the ECOWAS framework have failed to address incessant threats to Nigerian businesses in Ghana and warned that unless the Senate intervenes, the situation may deteriorate into a serious diplomatic and economic crisis. He further expressed doubts over the commitment of the Government of Ghana to genuinely reciprocate the sacrifices of Nigeria as a leading member state of ECOWAS by guaranteeing the safety of Nigerian businesses in Ghana, and further raised concerns that the complaints of affected Nigerian traders, particularly his constituents who constitute the majority of business owners in Ghana were yet to receive the deserved attention by appropriate authorities from the Federal Government of Nigeria even after repeated written complaints.
Responding to Senator Ubah’s Motion, the Senate expressed conviction that there was an urgent need to investigate those allegations and indeed draw the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria and it’s relevant authorities to the unfortunate development. While adopting the Motion, the Senate resolved to send a delegation of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the committees of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Investment, including the Sponsor of the Motion, Senator Ubah to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view to adopt and implement measures that will protect the interests of Nigerian traders in Ghana.
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