The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday summoned the High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria, Amb Rashid Bawa, over the continued closure of over 400 Nigerian shops in Ghana. Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the Ghanaian envoy was invited to give a definitive explanation on the treatment of Nigerian traders in that country.
The closure of over 400 Nigerian businesses in Ghana had sparked protest by National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG). Onyema said: “There had been some horror stories that we have been hearing and a case of suicide of Nigerian lady and when this broke out the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana came here. He said: “And we were assured that Nigerians were not the target and that efforts were being made to calm the situation.
“Again in New York, assurances were made by President Nana Akufo-Addo and we were shown the text that the shops that have been closed that belong to Nigerians would be reopened.”
He noted with concern that there were, however, conflicting reports on the reopening of Nigerian traders’ shops in Ghana. Onyeama said a committee was being set up at a highest level in Nigeria to look into the matter and to look at how, as a government, how to respond to the situation. “And, we said as part of understanding of what the situation is now legally and factually, to give this opportunity to brief us on the current situation,” he said.
He said: “The Ghanaian envoy was invited to give the opportunity to brief us on current situation” on the closure of Nigerian businesses in that country.
The High Commissioner, in his response, said he visited the areas that experienced distress by Nigerian traders. Bawa confirmed that about 80 to 85 per cent of shops that were locked had been re-opened and that the exercise was still ongoing. He said the Ghanaian authorities were also making efforts to ensure that Nigerian traders who were conducting businesses in Ghana were registered and had resident permits.