Olaolu Olusina
11 August 2008
opinion
Lagos — A new development is unfolding in the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana. A positive development, the kind of which is being hailed by close observers of developments between the two most powerful and influential countries in West Africa.
That the two countries share so many things in common is no longer news . They have also played leading and important roles in the sub-regional grouping, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as in the Africa Union(AU).
But the fact that Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is setting the pace for a more proactive bilateral relations is a welcome development.
The new trend which is considered as a radical departure from the conservative approach of the past eight years is capable of restoring the much needed mutual respect in the conduct of affairs between the two countries.
But analysts believe that this should be done with some caution and having in mind the goal of changing the stereotype that had characterised the relations in the past. The new High Commissioner, they insist, need to move past political rhetoric in confronting the challenges ahead.
Nigeria and Nigerians, many would readily agree, are not getting are not getting a fair deal commensurate to their contributions to this neighbouring country. Mutual respect, they also insist, must be the guiding rule in the bilateral relations.
A situation whereby Nigerians are being villified, blackmailed and potrayed in bad light at the slightest opportunity, they say, is quite unfortunate.
Examples abound of unjust blackmail, propanganda and campaign of calumny against Nigerian interests. Sahara Energy for example will not forget in a jiffy its experience in the wake of the initial oil find in the Saltpond area of Ghana sometime in 2004. Many others are also taking their experiences and fate in their strides. Though things appear to be alright at the governmental levels, events in the past one year call for caution.
There is no doubt that Ghana has built a reputation as a tourist and investment destination in West Africa. Its much flaunted hospitality and conducive investment climate also offer a good attraction to adventurous Nigerians.
And this explains why many Nigerians are trooping to this small West African country of about 20 million people. It is even undisputable that the two countries have never had it so good.
The development in Ghana is however coming as Nigeria also has maintained her position as the largest market not only in the subregion but in Africa as a whole. There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is the unrivalled economic powerhouse of the subregion.
It is therefore not surprising that Nigerians, in the spirit of South-south cooperation and with the renewed efforts towards regional integration in the ECOWAS , have always looked first unto Ghana for investment opportunities outside the shores of their country.
Only recently, according to the Nigerian envoy in that country, Nigeria's investment in Ghana alone has reached $600million. This is no doubt a huge investment with more still on the way.
Analysts say they therefore expect some levels of mutual respect in the relationship between the two countries despite the age-long mutual suspicion. While it is true that Ghana offers a good atmosphere for investment to thrive, there is no doubt that Nigeria also offers good returns on investments.
But observers are worried at the lopsided nature of the relationship. While Nigerians would always want to invest in Ghana, entrepreneurs from that country always want to steer clear of Nigeria like a plague despite the huge potential here . It is disheartening that while some smart and discerning Ghanaians are cutting good deals in Nigeria, many of their compatriots still watch their moves with suspicion.
To the latter group, they are yet to get over the age-long suspicion of the average Nigerian. Nigerians have for long been painted in bad light because of the activities of bad eggs in Ghana. To this group of Ghanaians, every Nigerian is a potential criminal.
Nigerian professionals in that country are no doubt doing everything possible to change this stereotype and the contributions of Nigerian companies operating in that country is helping a great deal.
But in official quarters, the average Nigerian resident in Ghana would acknowledge the fact that beyond the traditional Akwaaba is the unofficial carrot and stick game. This is one of the major tasks before the Nigerian High Commissioner.
Obanikoro, analysts believe, should make the welfare of every law abiding Nigerian in Ghana his priority and should not be seen to be joining the fray in believing that every criminal in Ghana is a Nigerian.
The statement credited to him about flushing Nigerian criminals out of Ghana was quite undiplomatic, they affirm, as they wonder whether there are no Ghanaian criminals in Nigeria. It should be noted that the stereotype that is haunting the bilateral relationship could also be attributed to the utterances of some few Nigerians resident in Ghana.
In their bid to become more Ghanaian than the real Ghanaians, they throw caution to the winds by castigating their fatherland to the admiration of their hosts.
A good case was the unguided comments of some Nigerians in the Ghanaian media in the aftermath of the 2007 general elections. Prior to that time, a federal legislator led a team comprising legislators from a particular state in Nigeria to Ghana where they shamelessly washed their dirty linens to the admiration of Ghanaians.
The fate of Nigerian traders in Ghana is still a major issue to tackle and whatever anybody says the contributions of this group of Nigerians to the informal sector of the Ghanaian economy cannot be wished away by xenophobic sentiments.
The plan to establish the Nigeria-Ghana Chamber of Commerce is a welcome development just as the investment summit should be used to correct the mistakes of the past. It would not even out of place for the summit to be hosted in Nigeria to ensure a balance relationship.
Nigerians in Ghana should also encourage Ghanaians to come and invest in Nigeria.
That is the only way to promote a sound relationship that is unfolding, and such as analysts canvassed must be premised on best practice and progressive diplomatic principles. A one-sided approach will not help in any way. No doubt, the two countries have a lot to gain from a more strengthened relationship. Changing the face of Nigerian-Ghanaian bilateral relations goes beyond political rhetoric. But a more drastic and practical approach based on mutual respect should be adopted.
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