The latest Press Release by the Nigeria High Commissioner Amb. Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan, with members of the Nigeria Media Center has given Nigerian Traders relief on the lingering trade issue with GUTA, Amb.Onafowokan confirmed to Nigerian Media houses in Ghana that after talks held between hi m and the members of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Ghana few dews ago, the ministry of trade has given directives for land to be allocated for building of Nigerian Market in the regions of Ghana.
The Career Diplomat Amb.Onafowokan commended the president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama, the foreign Minister Miss Hanna Tetteh, Hon. Haruna Idrissu the minister of labour and productivity, and confessed being extremely and most grateful to the new minister of trade Hon. Ekow Spio -Garbrah and his deputy Mr. Murtala Mohammed for their deep understanding of the importance of trade and international economic relations in the affairs of the nations, he lauded the new minister of trade for saying it categorically that it will not augur well for west Africa, if traders shops are locked and they are forced to go back to their countries, in the absence of what to do because if same treatments are met to Ghanaians it will affect the economic situation of Ghanaians who are also trading in other countries “ I appreciate the wisdom of Hon. Ekow Spio-Garbah and the new tolerant stand of the Ghanaian government and its people which is very considerate and fair ,via reconsidering the decision of clamping down on retail traders in Ghana and also taking steps to ensure that closed Nigerian shops were re-opened, and foreign traders are once more protected and can do their business and live free in Ghana without fear of molestation again ”
Hon Ekow Spio- Garbrah Minister of Trade and Industry Ghana
This was out of the result of Nigeria High commissioners visit to the
ministry of trade and Industry Ghana following the peaceful
demonstration of the embittered traders to the High commission after
closures of their shops.The meeting which resulted to this new positive development was actually undertaken by Amb.Onafowokan to make complaints on the incessant harassment of foreign traders which includes Nigerian traders in traditional markets of Ghanaians, which he found strange because Nigerians and Ghanaians have been trading side by side in those markets for over 100 years peacefully, and why the sudden change of attitude, and was happy by the high sense of understanding demonstrated by the ministry of trade and Industry Ghana that resulted in something positive coming out of the meeting ” The Ghanaian Government has done the wisest thing, and I commend them for knowing what to do in the face of such a delicate issue which also involves satisfying the interest of their citizens but moreover of gratifying the collective interest of Africans as a people thereby contributing to the economic growth of the ECOWAS Region, On the land allocation to be given to Nigerian community Ghana for erecting of their market, we plead for the assistance of Federal Government of Nigeria back home to assist in building the market, we the Nigeria High commission though we don’t have money to give them, we will work hard to ensure that this land allocation becomes a reality.”
When questioned by the media on the time frame on the fulfillment of the promise of land allocation he answered that no time was given but the Nigeria high commission has already responded to the promise with a letter immediately to ensure that the trail doesn’t go cold and the promise for land allocation be redeemed in the shortest time possible.
The high commissioner also confirmed that the land allocation for foreigners market or Nigerian market will not be in Accra alone, but in other affected regions like Kumasi, Ho, Wa , koforidua, Brong Ahafo and wherever they don’t want Nigerian traders in their markets and need them to move.
Amb.Onafowokan believes that Nigerian traders will appreciate this development because they agreed to this notion when he raised it before them during their visit, and it’s a good step towards finally putting this issue to a final rest because it’s more so a win-win situation for all the parties involved.
He confessed not wanting Ghanaians to lose out on the war because if Ghanaians shops are closed in Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Cameroun, Gabon and other countries, it will hit them hard more, and moreover too Ghanaians at home in Ghana needs to operate freely in their markets and make profits as well, so Ghana Govt reversing the decision and also choosing the option of land allocation for Nigerian traders to build their market is close to perfection in putting this issue to a final rest, this new stand of Ghana government is one of insight and intelligence he concluded.
Nigerian traders protest that led to the new development.
The Eviction order from the Ministry of Trade and Industry with a push from the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA),that resulted in clamp downs on their businesses has caused panic grips among Nigerian Traders in Ghana, this is after a month notice given to them to quit their act of engaging retail business in Ghana’s traditional Markets elapsed a almost 2 weeks ago.
• Nigerian traders complain to High Commission earlier
This action prompted the All Nigerian Community in Ghana (ANC – Ghana); a body that looks into the welfare of Nigerians living in Ghana in collaboration with Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) to organized a Press – Conference and a March Protest to the Nigerians High Commissioner to explain their grievances on Trade Issue and also to seek for the protection of their businesses in Ghana from the Government back home.
The press statement sought the Intervention of President John Dramani Mahama as the Chairman of ECOWAS to loud his voice on ECOWAS Protocol Treaty for the free movement of people Goods and Services across the borders of the Sub-Region as both countries are members, the Traders entreated the President John Mahama who is also the ECOWAS Chairman to raise a strong dialogue to ensure that the problem between GUTA and NUTAG is resolved once and for all, because the Trade Issue has always been like a sleeping Dog that sleeps and wakeup from time to time, adding to the fact that it consumes time and money and can result to hostilities among the citizens of the two nation. “It needs to be solved amicably via dialogue with the major players concerned by the issue and with representatives from the Government of the two Nations” ,and appealed to President Mahama to reconsider the decision to implement the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (Gipc), Law that Prohibits foreigners in the Country from doing Retail business.
the associations in their statement also pleaded to the Hon. Speaker Edward Kobby Doe Adjaho to be mild on the Trade prohibition law from the floor House on non-Ghanaians engaging retail business as stated in Sections: 27 (1) (a) and ‘28’ (2) of the GIPC Law 2013, Act ‘865’ which stated that a person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by a citizen should not participate in the Sale of goods or provision of services in a market place eg Petty Trading or Hawking or Selling of goods in a stall at any market place “and” A person who is not a citizen may engage in a trading enterprise if the person invest in the enterprise not less than US$ 1 million in cash or goods and services relevant to the Investment.
They also drew attention of the Minister of trade Ghana and members of Parliament to temper justice with mercy on the Domestic Law on Trade Prohibition for foreigners doing retail business in Ghana because the Law will have serious consequences on foreign traders in the Country.
Mr. Moses Owharo, the President of All Nigerian Community in Ghana (ANC-Ghana) on his part said it’s tantamount to crime against humanity if the Ghana Govt goes ahead with this clamp down on Nigerian traders on so short a notice, because effects of implementing the Law will be hard on many families since these traders do not have other options of livelihood apart from Trading ,besides majority of these traders are from the eastern part of Nigerians (Igbos) and they are known for Business all over the World ,not only in Ghana alone.
He added,it is a matter of great concern against the backdrop of the upkeep of their Ghanaian wives and husbands given as Inter-Marriages between Ghanaians and Nigerians are high among these traders and particularly the future of their children who are also half Ghanaians.
He then pleaded for leniency from the Ghana Government as the two nations are friends and brethren in sub-Sahara region of Africa and are entwined in history, culture, Inter-marriage, Economic, and Educational aspects of life.
He voiced out strongly that NUTAG was not to question the rational for the Trade prohibition Law or challenge the Authority of Government, but rather,are appealing Law-makers for leniency and for the Government to reconsider and resolve not to Implement the said Domestic Law of the land at this time.
He also indicated that Nigerian traders had made immense contributions to the Ghanaian Economy in the areas of employments, Taxations, Infrastructures, Manpower and also likewise Ghanaians doing business in Nigeria so Ghana Government should see to second thought to this domestic Law to put temper unto it, as Government of the people, it needs to protect the interest of both parties and let not history repeat itself like it did in the past.
“We need to play maturity in our differences as we are two giants of the ECOWAS Region and others look upto us,-Nigerians- the Destination and Ghana the gateway to Africa. We should not allow politics and activists to destroy the house we build for ECOWAS unity and peace in the region for over 34 years of ECOWAS Integrations, liberation. We need each other, no country is sufficient on its own.”
“We need to Jaw-Jaw this trade Issue and bring a lasting solution to it, we plead for the Government for a reconsideration of the Implementation of the Trade Prohibition Law and think twice on the implications that may bring to the two countries. We are all working towards the progress and development of our people in the sub-region.” He concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment