Chief Chukwuemeka Nnaji, leader of Nigerian traders in Ghana, has revealed how Nigerian traders had been subjected to hardship by the Ghanaian authorities since 2007.
Nnaji made this known on Wednesday while narrating hostilities against Nigerians residing in Ghana to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Buhari government recently expressed displeasure with Ghanaian authorities over harassment of Nigerians residing in Ghana saying the negative reportage of issues by the Ghanaian media is fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general.
But the Ghanaian government in its response denied any form of hostility against Nigerians in the country insisting all decisions taken against foreigners were according to the laws of the country.
Nnaji, however, informed Gbajabiamila that Nigerian traders had their businesses registered with appropriate agencies while they pay their taxes as and when due, yet they were still subjected to harsh treatment by the Ghanaian authorities.
He further revealed that many Nigerian traders could not afford the latest $1m trade registration fee, adding that those who could not pay the sum still had their shops under lock and key.
Nnaji was quoted to have said this in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, titled, ‘Gbajabiamila hopeful of mutually acceptable resolutions to Ghanaian diplomatic face-off…as Nigerian traders narrate ordeals to Gbajabiamila.’
The Speaker, who led a delegation of members of the House on a “legislative diplomatic mission,” said the two-day visit to Ghana was meant to explore legislative diplomacy towards resolving the issues affecting both countries.
The Nigerian delegation was received by the Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, as they arrived in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The Ghanaian Speaker, while receiving his Nigerian counterpart, expressed confidence that an amicable resolution would be reached on the issues.
