Tensions grow with Nigerian traders in Ghana, Foreign Affair Minister assures solution

Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has sent a message to the Ghanaians to stay calm as the government is giving its effort to resolve the impasse between Nigerian and Ghanaian traders.

The tension is constantly increasing between two groups of Ghanaian traders who are insisting the government to enforce the trade laws, which would call for a prohibition for the foreigners to engage in the retail business. And recently, the government of Ghana was under pressure from Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to strictly enforce the legislation that ensures the reservation for Ghanaians only in the retail business.

The tension mounted with the recent confrontation between Ghanaian Union of Traders Association and Nigerian traders at Kumasi and parts of Accra. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is putting pressure at the Parliament on the enforcement of the legislation that reserves retail trade for locals.

Bonsu also insisted on the Ghanaian government to impose a law on the foreigners to invest a minimum of USD 1 million and employ at least 12 Ghanaian citizens who would like to do business in the country. This is already mentioned in Section 865 of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) Law.

The renowned Ghanaian Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway has sent the message on August 6 in the capital, Accra while addressing the media persons. She cited that such calls might not be in Ghana’s best interest. This is because Ghanaians living in Nigeria may confront similar situation there as happened in the past.

“The Ministry of Trade and the GIPC are dealing with this matter, but from my perspective I just want us to be circumspect in how we fan the flame with regards to other nationals who are coming into our country, because if Nigeria decides to send Ghanaians back, it will be another exodus of ‘Ghana Must Go’ in retaliation of us sending Nigerian back to their country,” she said.

On the other hand, the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana recently conveyed displeasure due to the way media brazenly covered crimes involving Nigerians. He said the media coverage was xenophobic. According to the High Commission, this kind of xenophobic tendencies was adequate to ruin Ghana-Nigeria relations.

“The Ghanaian press, both print and electronics as well as social media seems to have enjoyed a field day in demonising Nigeria which for all intent and purposes, is seen as a fraternal brother to Ghana,” the High Commission said.

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