UPDATE: Nigeria Has Also Taken Steps That Affected Us - Ghanaian Minister Replies Lai Mohammed

Kojo Nkrumah

Following the ongoing issues between Nigerian traders based in Ghana and their authorities, the Ghanaian government says the Federal government of Nigeria has also taken steps in the past that have adversely affected its citizens.

The Ghanaian government stated this days after the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, spoke against the issues affecting Nigerian traders in Ghana. Lai at a press conference last Friday, August 28, said Nigeria will no longer tolerate the harassment on Nigerians in the country.

Earlier this month, Nigerian traders in Ghana raised the alarm over the closure of their shops. The incident happened two months after a building in the Nigerian mission in Ghana was demolished.

In a statement released on Sunday, August 30, the Ghanaian Minister of Information, Kojo Nkrumah, said the issues between both countries can be resolved through diplomacy. He pointed out that it is on record that Nigeria has taken a number of steps “which have gravely affected other countries in the region”.

“These include the closure of Nigeria’s Seme Krake border from August 2019 to date and the issuance of executive orders by Nigeria’s Presidency, preventing foreigners from getting jobs which Nigerians can do, to mention a few,” he said.

“Ghana and other West African countries continue to believe redress to even actions like these can be sought, diplomatically, without resort to media statements and related activities that have the potential to aggravate further the situation.

The aforementioned notwithstanding, the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who values very much his excellent relations with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, will engage President Buhari with a view to develop immediately a framework for validating claims of ill treatment of citizens of either country, and ensure citizens enjoy the full exercise of their rights, while respecting the sovereignty and laws of both countries.

Ghana and Nigeria, as they have been doing, must continue to work together for a successful West Africa.” he said

On the demolition of a part Nigeria’s mission in Ghana, the minister said the federal government failed to complete the documentation process after paying for the land in 2000.

“The High Commission failed to acquire the Lease and Land Title Certificate, which constitute documentation for the said property, as well as a building permit for construction. In Ghana, land is owned not only by the government, but also by stools and families.” Nkrumah said.

On the closure of shops of Nigerian traders, Nkrumah said the claim that the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) has been increased the fee for registration to $1 million is false