Ghanaian traders debunk claims by Nigerian counterparts

Ghanaian traders have mounted staunch defence against recent protests by Nigerian Union of Traders Associations in Ghana (NUTAG), over the continued closure of more than 400 shops owned by Nigerians in Kumasi.

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) in Kumasi accused Nigerian traders of deliberately distorting facts in order to win the sympathy of the ECOWAS Community, as well as tarnish the image of Ghana within the international community.

“Our attention has been drawn to recent demonstration in Abuja by the Nigerian Union of Traders Associations in Ghana led by its President Chukwuemeka Nnaji and his vice Ikeckwukwu Obiora alias Kizito on a fabrication of falsehood and distorted facts to dent the good image of Ghana in the eyes of the whole world.

“In their petition to His Excellency President Buhari sent through senior special advisor on Diaspora, A bike Dabiri- Erewa, NUTAG presented calculated stories of lies to win the sympathy of the ECOWAS Community. In their petition to President Buhari, the Nigerian traders also alleged a woman committed suicide because of the harassment of Ghanaians,” he said.

The GUTA executive said the Nigerian trader died of a different cause not suicide over the rift with Ghanaian traders.

Reacting to the closure of shops owned by Nigerians, the GUTA executive insisted that they flouted their laws, hence their business places were locked up.