Traders demand reopening of shops
The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has demanded the reopening of over 400 Nigerian businesses shut by the Ghanaian government.
During a peaceful protest at the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, the protesters mostly women, condemned the eviction order by the Ghanaian government on July 27, 2018, asking foreign investors to have $1million minimum capital to do business in Ghana.
“This means that for a Nigerian to trade in Ghana, he or she must go there with N360 million. Ghanaians trading in Nigeria, how much is their investment?” queried Barr. Legborsi Nwiabu, the head of NANTS legal unit who spoke on behalf of the protesters.
He said the association was deeply worried about what he called high-level government complicity, state-sponsored incitement and xenophobic attacks on Nigerian on the streets of Ghana.
“As you are aware, Ghana and Nigeria are supposed to be brothers. But since 2017, Ghana no longer treats Nigerians as brothers. There was a time when Nigeria was a home of succour to Ghana. We don’t know what has gone wrong today that Nigerians in Ghana are not given the same treatment,” he said.
He demanded immediate return of all goods seized from Nigerian traders, adding that the government should undertake to protect and provide security for them.
“The GIPC Act should not be applied on Nigerian traders as we are not foreigners in Ghana but bonafide community citizens under the ECOWAS protocol,” Nwiabu said.
He warned that if the request was not granted the association would deploy all its members to occupy the high commission and conduct their businesses there.
Responding, the Ghanaian High Commission’s Consular Officer, Mr. Eric Duodu, who received the protesters, commended them for their peaceful conduct and