Ghana eviction order: Nigerian traders threaten ‘reactive steps’

The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has threatened to carryout ‘reactive steps’ against the illtreatment of Nigerian traders by the Ghanaian authorities.

The President of NANTS, Barrister Ken Ukaoha gave the warning yesterday during a joint press briefing with Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG) in Abuja.

He said, “The water has gone beyond where we can swallow and we are vomiting it. Although Nigerian government is making effort to resolve the issue through diplomatic means, we may be pushed to the wall to take reactive steps.

“Nobody should hold us accountable for the two million Ghanaians who are living in Nigeria. We know what to do. We can’t retaliate. We can act. We have our own way too. We are being punished for doing nothing.”

Ukaoha said despite the assurance by the Ghanaian President Nana AkufoAdo after meeting with his Nigerian counterpart in New York on the sideline of the UN general Assembly that the eviction order was not targeted at Nigerian traders, their shops are yet to be re-opened.

Daily Trust had reported that despite the directive by the country’s Trade Minister, Mr Alan Kyeremateng that over 400 shops and trading outlets belonging to Nigerian traders be re-opened, those shops remained closed.

The issue, he added, is inching towards xenophobic dimension as Nigerians no longer safe to walk freely on the streets of Ghana because of attacks.