Border Closure: Ghanaian Traders Suffer Huge Losses, Threaten To Boycott Nigerian Goods

Following Nigeria’s closure of its land borders over smuggling of goods from neighbouring countries, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has called for a total boycott of Nigerian goods in retaliation. 

The traders made the call after several attempts to get the Nigerian government to open up its borders yielded no result. 

The federal government had shut the borders in August to curb illegal trading activities by neighbouring countries and insisted that the closure would remain in force until the country gets its neighbours to stick to trade agreements and treaties signed with them.

THE WHISTLER had reported that in 2018 alone, Ghana exported over $60 million worth of goods to Nigeria. 

Ghana’s foreign and regional integration minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, had lamented how traders in the country incurred huge losses due to Nigeria’s recent closure of its borders. 

Ghanaian traders are now threatening to boycott Nigerian goods to force the federal government to reconsider its decision, according to local reports.

The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of GUTA, David Kwadwo Amoateng, accused  the Nigerian government of being unfair to traders in the country. 

Amoateng was quoted as saying on Adom FM that he expects the Ghanaian government to prevent Nigerian traders from importing goods into Ghana.

“Either somebody’s bread has been buttered or we are cowards. Government is not being fair to us,” he fumed.

“Let’s boycott Nigerian products as payback for their government’s action. How can we be slaves in our own country?” he said.

Amoateng warned that the issue could hamper the Continental Free Trade Area if not addressed.