Hundreds of Nigerian traders massed up at the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in protest of what they call inhumane treatment meted out to them by the Ghanaian government.
According to the traders, some of whose shops have been closed since December 2019, they are dying of hunger and want to be evacuated to Nigeria if Ghanaian authorities fail to open their shops.
Foreign traders in Ghana’s retail space have, for some time now, been at loggerheads with their local counterparts – especially the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) – over the legitimacy of their activity.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) law that bars foreigners from retail trade in the country.
Section 27(1) of GIPC Act 865 highlights activities that foreign investors are not permitted to invest or participate in, including the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading, hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place.
But President of the Nigeria Union of Traders Association (NUTAG), Chukwuemeka Nnaji is calling on the High Commission to come to their aid.
“Our shops have been closed for over 10 months now in the Circle area. We have done everything to be able to sustain our families. We can’t pay our children’s school fees and our rents are expiring,” one of the protesters said.
We are here to plead with the High Commissioner to make Ghana’s government reopen our shops. If that is not possible
Acting High Commissioner, Esther Arewa subsequently received their petition and pledged to do his best in getting their concerns addressed.
“When I got the news that you people are coming, i had to also make a call fast. The information i got was that its up there at the Presidency. So we are hoping that very soon, your situation will be addressed.”
She assured that the Commission will liaise with the Nigerian government and expressed commitment towards helping resolve the matter.
“Its a government-to-government dialogue and I believe that very soon, by the grace of God, we will get to the end of this matter and we all be at peace on Jesus name,” she added.
