Ghana President Visits Nigeria As $1m Levy On Nigerian Traders Remain Unresolved
Since 2018, the businesses of Nigerian retail traders in Ghana have been facing serious threats following the enactment of a legislation by the government of Ghana that they must have $1m business equity, among other requirements, before they can continue operating their commercial ventures.
The decision was based on the implementation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre 2013, Act 865.
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The Act provided that a person who is not a Ghanaian citizen or an enterprise, which is not wholly-owned by a citizen shall not invest or participate in the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place.
It also provided that a foreigner may participate in an enterpriseif that person, in the case of a joint enterprise with a partner, who is a citizen, invests a foreign capital of not less than $200,000 in cash or capital goods relevant to the investment or a combination of both by way of equity participation.
The law further stipulated that a person, who is not a citizen, may engage in a trading enterprise if that person invests in the enterprise not less than $1m in cash or goods and services relevant to the investment.
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The investor is also required to employ at least 20 skilled Ghanaians.
While citizens of Ghana had applauded the government for protecting and preserving the livelihood of the generality of its citizens from being taken over by foreigners, the manner in which the Ministry of Trade and the Ghana Union of Traders Association have been going about the enforcement of the law gives the impression that it is targeted at Nigerians.
This is because Nigerians are perceived to have the upper hand in the local market space in Ghana because of their industrious nature.
Many Analysts have claimed that the insistence of Ghanaian authorities on the $1m business equity requirement might be a reprisal for the closure of Nigerian borders over a year ago.
The border closure has had huge negative impact on the local economy in Ghana as Nigeria offers a huge market to goods produced in Ghana.
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While the Ghanaian authorities have debunked the claims with an excuse that the legislation was to protect its economic interests, it had yet to take concrete action to stop the anti-trading legislation for non-citizens.
Figures obtained from the National Association of Nigerian Traders, showed that over 300 shops belonging to Nigerian Traders have been locked by the Ghanaian authorities.
While a lot of diplomatic strategies have been adopted to resolve the trade impasse, the results have not been encouraging as the shops are still under lock and key..
With the visitation of the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo to the ECOWAS Commission on Monday in Abuja, hopes have been rekindled that the trade dispute would soon be resolved.
Akufo-Addo is the current Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Head of State and Governments and by virtue of his leadership position in the sub-region, experts have said that he should show leadership by resolving the trade dispute.
Speaking on the development, the President, National Association of Nigerian Traders, Ken Ukaoha said that the closure of businesses belonging to Nigerian Traders is an attack on the country.
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He said that since Ghana is a signatory to the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of goods and services, there is need for the commission to call the government of Ghana to order.
He said the association had in the past carried out protest at the ECOWAS Commission and submitted letters of petition calling on the Commission to intervene on the matter.
He said, “This is a clear signal and perhaps should be the final attack that must awaken Nigerian Government to the reality. Would Nigerian Government be deceived again by the diplomatic lullaby deployed by Ghana to rubbish Nigeria?
“Is this not the real face and meaning of African Continental Free Trade Agreement for Ghana? Would the Nigerian Government wait for further signals to understand that reciprocity is part of diplomacy?
“How long shall we suffer this humiliation? I hereby call on all well meaning Nigerians and indeed credible leaders to come out and confront this perennial attack and degradation that has defiled solution and even overwhelmed ECOWAS.
“Who can help us awaken the Nigerian Government to protect and secure her citizens? Nigerian media should take up the battle from here… The cries, the tears and the voices of our fellow citizens and comrades seeking attention. Who would help?”
Also speaking, the Registrar, Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Eohoi, urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the visit of the Ghanaian President to resolve the dispute.
He said based on ECOWAS protocols, it was wrong for countries to come up with policies that would hinder the free movement of goods and services.
He said ECOWAS is built on regional economic integration and as such any policy that would restrict trade would hinder the growth and development of member countries.
He said, “I don’t understand why Nigerians living in Ghana should be treated like animals. It baffles me that the relationship may be heading towards a xenophobic stage.
“I also find it difficult to understand what Ghana government is gaining by attacking Nigerian traders, closing their shops for several months now.
“I’m still baffled that despite series of meeting by senior government officials from both countries, the matter had yet to.be resolved.”
But Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had assured Nigerian traders in Ghana that the Federal Government will ensure that they get justice despite the delay in resolving their concerns.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the Vice President gave the assurance during a meeting with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana.
Responding to the issues raised by leaders of the Nigerian community at the meeting, especially the maltreatment of Nigerians by Ghanaian authorities, Osinbajo reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to deal with the issues.
Osibanjo explained that the delay in resolving these issues is due to bureaucratic bottlenecks which is generally a drag on government activities.
