The Ghanaian high commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Rashid Bawa, has been summoned by the federal government, over the closure of over 400 Nigerian shops in Ghana.
Speaking on the development, Nigeria’s foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said Bawa was invited to explain the treatment meted out to Nigerian traders in his country.
Legit.ng notes that protests had broken out over the closure of the Nigerian businesses; with the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG), taking part.
Onyeama stated: “There had been some horror stories and a case of a Nigerian lady’s suicide. When this broke, the minister of foreign affairs of Ghana came here.
“We were assured that Nigerians were not the targets and that efforts were on to calm the situation.
“Again, in New York, assurances were made by President Nana Akufo-Addo and we were shown the text that the shops that have been closed that belong to Nigerians would be reopened.”
The minister said a committee was being set up at the highest level in Nigeria to look into the matter and determine ways in which the federal government can respond to the situation.
He said: “The Ghanaian envoy was invited to give him the opportunity to brief us on current situation on the closure of Nigerian businesses in that country.”
In his response, the Ghanaian diplomat said he had visited the areas affected by the clampdown, and confirmed that about 80 to 85 percent of shops that were locked had been re-opened. He added that the exercise is still ongoing.
Bawa also disclosed that efforts were being made by Ghanaian authorities to ensure that Nigerian traders doing business in Ghana were registered and had resident permits.
He said: “I was in Accra at the invitation of the president to go have a look at what was happening on the ground. I spent two days on the ground, meeting with all stakeholders.
“Some of the shops at the time I visited 10 days ago have been re-opened and re-opening of shops is still ongoing as we speak.
“Those that have not been opened are locked because owners were not present at their shops. Ghana Union of Traders Association wants to open the shops with owners present.”
Recall that Legit.ng had previously reported that the continued closure of Nigerians shops in Ghana two weeks after President Koffi Nana-Akudo gave the order to reopen them, had elicited concern from the federal government.
The sentiment was expressed by the assistant to the president on foreign affairs and diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, when the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) led by its president, Ken Ukuoha, paid her a visit in Abuja.
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