Diplomatic Row: Nigerian Traders Lament Ordeals, Say Members Died Waiting For Ghanaian Authorities To Re-Open 250 Locked Shops

– As Gbajabiamila Arrives In Accra

Nigerian traders on Wednesday narrated their painful experiences in the hands of Ghanaian authorities over the years, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, arrived in Accra on diplomatic shuttle.

Gbajabiamila visited the neighbouring West African country in the hope of addressing the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Ghana, a situation that had lately ignited a seeming diplomatic row between Nigeria and the former Gold Coast.

Ghana lately imposed a $1million business registration fee on traders, the majority of whom are Nigerians. In addition, it shut many shops owned by Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila, after the arrival formalities, went to the Nigerian High Commission where representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana were waiting for him.

At the session, the traders poured out their grief to the speaker, pleading for urgent intervention by the Nigerian Government.

The leader of the traders, Chief Chukwuemeka Nnaji, disclosed how since 2007, Nigerians were subjected to harrowing experiences in Ghana.

For instance, he said up to 250 shops were locked up.

Nnaji added that in spite of the fact that the traders duly registered their business operations and paid taxes, levies as and when due, the $1m fee was still slammed on them.

According to him, some traders who struggled and paid the fee, still had their shops locked up, resulting the in the death of a number of them, owing to sufferings.

The Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Mr Lanre Lasisi, said Gbajabiamila was received on arrival in Accra by the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Hon Mike Oquaye.

The Nigerian speaker travelled in company with the Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Buba Yusuf; Chairman House Committee on Media, Rep. Benjamin Kalu; House Member of ECOWAS Parliament, Rep. Bayo Balogun; Rep. Ikenna Elezieanya; Rep Ephraim Nwuzi; and Rep. Balarabe Shehu. 

Oquaye, while receiving the Nigerian team, said he was confident that the issues would be thoroughly discussed by both sides.

“Ghana and Nigeria are like the tongue and the teeth, they must interact, and sometimes the teeth may do havoc, and yet it never regrets the taste that the tongue gives to it. That is what happens if we don’t interact. 

“Even when we step on one another’s feet, in the process we should come to realize that there is a need to continue to be together and we, therefore, welcome you. Thank you very much for your keenness in responding to my call that we should meet and you took a quick step in arranging to be here today.

“I trust in the next two days we will bring a beautiful reunion to our two Nations”, he stated.

Gbajabiamila told his host he was hopeful that at the end of the two-day visit, both sides would reach some understanding, leading to the peaceful settlement of all burning issues.

Gbajabiamila stated, “There is something in modern-day parlance called legislative diplomacy or parliamentary diplomacy, and that is what obtains all over the world today. Diplomacy is done from all angles, including back channels such as what we are doing now and sometimes you get results that you can only imagine. So, I look forward to a fruitful discussion as we move forward. 

“Like you rightly said, Nigeria and Ghana are more like Siamese twins, and brothers. I love the analogy you came up with, like the tongue and teeth. Brothers will always have squabbles, healthy ones, national interest on both side will always come to play but it’s not the misunderstanding that matters, it’s how you resolve it that matters.

“In Africa, you cannot talk about Nigeria without talking about Ghana and you cannot talk about Ghana without talking about Nigeria and therefore it has become incumbent on us, one as leaders of parliament and two generally as parliamentarians to bring to bear this concept of legislative diplomacy for fruitful results. 

“The weight and burden of our international relationship rest actually on parliamentary shoulders and it is my hope that we will, in two days, reach some resolutions that will settle both countries.”