The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama has said that the country would have to look to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a lasting solution to the continuous attack on Nigerian traders in Ghana.
Mr. Onyeama disclosed this when representatives of the Nigerian traders in Ghana under the auspices of the Progressive Ambassadors of Nigeria, (PAN), paid him a visit in Abuja.
The Association visited Onyeama, soliciting for the urgent intervention of the Nigerian government in the recurring attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana.
Mr. Onyeama said that the Nigerian government has proactively swung into immediate action to address the situation within the shortest time possible.
The Minister however noted that one of the measures for a concrete solution was to get in touch with ECOWAS to ascertain if the Ghanaian retail code was in contravention to ECOWAS protocols.
Mr. Onyeama said it is also very important to get all the facts of the situation before the Nigerian government can act and engage with the Ghanaian authorities.
“What is the point of having an economic community if at the end of the day each country would make laws and regulations in contradiction of that?”
“This has been a recurring nightmare and concrete measures need to be taken and the first step we want to take is to be sure of all the facts before we act.”
“We have summoned the Ghanaian High Commissioner who has given us information; we have the intention of recalling our Charge d affaires in Ghana for consultations.”
“We are also going to get in touch with ECOWAS to also understand clearly what the ECOWAS perspective on this is, if this law in contravention of the ECOWAS protocol.”
“So once we have all the facts then we will consider all our options with the Ghanaian government so we don’t what to anticipate what our actions will be but all our options will be there depending on the facts.”
“Clearly, if it is contravening the ECOWaS protocol then we would have to now look at ECOWAS solution including the ECOWS court as a final arbiter,” Onyeama said.
Enabling Environment
Mr. Onyeama said another issue to be looked into was on reciprocity, stating that Nigeria has created an enabling environment for Ghanaians to operate in Nigeria and so, Nigerians should enjoy the same privilege in Ghana.
Speaking earlier, Comrade Jasper Emenike, President of PAN said on behalf of the Nigerian traders in Ghana, called for the urgent intervention of the Nigerian government to deescalate the burning tensions.
Lamenting the unjust treatment of Nigerian traders in Ghana, Mr. Emenike said Ghanaian retail traders enjoy ease of doing business in Nigeria without any harassment but that was not the same for Nigerian traders in Ghana..
Mr. Emenike said what is most urgent is for the Nigerian government to deescalate the ongoing tensions to avoid people being killed in the process.
He also called on the Nigerian government to review the country’s foreign policy especially as it affects Nigerian retail trading in Ghana.
Shops belonging to Nigerian traders in Accra were locked up by Ghanaian authorities who demanded cash payment of one million dollars from them before the shops would be opened.
Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) mandates the registration fee of one million dollars for non-Ghanaian retail traders in the country.
