Onwuka Nzeshi
20 November 2008
Abuja — House of Representatives yesterday condemned the Ghanaian government over the harassment and discriminatory policies it adopted against Nigerian businessmen in Ghana, despite the existing cordial bilateral relations between both countries.
The lower chamber of the National Assembly therefore adopted recomendations of its Public Petitions Committee seeking inclusion of the principle of reciprocity in Nigeria's relationship with Ghana.
Chairman House committee on Public Petitions, Honourable CID Maduabum, who presented the report of the committee on investigations into the rift between Nigerian Traders Association in Ghana and the Ghanaian authorities, said the treatment given to Nigerian traders was not only unfair, but runs contrary to the letter and spirit of the ECOWAS treaty and protocols.
Maduabum urged the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sustain the current diplomatic efforts geared towards resolving the crisis, but said that if the current efforts to resolve the crisis failed, "Nigeria should consider applying the principle of reciprocity in dealing with Ghanaians in Nigeria, in order to send a strong message that Nigerians abroad cannot be so badly treated and discriminated against without consequenes."
The report urged Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be pro-active in giving diplomatic assistance to Nigerians abroad, as that was the only way to restore the dignity of its citizens anywhere in the world.
On November 29, 2007, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, in tandem with the Ministy of Trade and Industry and Ghana Union of Traders Association, closed all shops and business premises of foreign nationals in Ghana. This was closely followed by a directive that shop owners from other countries re-open their shops, but those owned by Nigerians were ordered to remain closed, until they were registered with proof of an initial capital of $300,000.00.
This disccriminatory action triggered off a round of protests, forcing Nigerian traders to petition the House of Representatives.
An investigative public hearing was conducted during which representatives of the Nigerian Traders Association in Ghana testified. Several meetings were also held between Nigerian and Ghanaian officials on how to resolve the dispute amicably and avoid a reoccurrence.
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