Nigerain Traders in Ghana will Get Justice, FG
Assures
Despite the seeming delay in resolving the concerns of Nigerian
traders regarding some stiff business regulation imposed by
Ghanaian authorities, the Federal Government will ensure that
affected Nigerians get justice, according to Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, SAN.
The Vice President gave the assurance on Tuesday evening during
a meeting with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana.
The meeting which held at the official residence of the Nigerian
High Commissioner to Ghana was focused on the challenges facing
Nigerians living in the West African nation including the locking
of hundreds of Nigerian owned shops.
Responding to the issues raised by leaders of the Nigerian
community at the meeting, especially the maltreatment of Nigerians
by Ghanaian authorities, Prof Osinbajo strongly affirmed the
commitment of the Federal Government to deal with the issues,
assuring them of justice.
According to him, “I will certainly convey the depth of your
grievances to the President. I am sure that he will be deeply
disturbed to hear that despite the assurances that he had received,
(from the Ghanaian government) there are still problems and
complications,” many of which have been discussed at the highest
levels with assurances of resolutions given.
But the VP explained that the delay in resolving these issues
may be due to bureaucratic bottlenecks which is generally a drag on
government activities.
“I look forward to getting the details and making sure that we
are able to begin to resolve some of these issues as quickly as
possible. But I think you must also recognize that generally
speaking, governments tend to be very slow, processes are slow,
bureaucracies are slow, but we will make sure that we do the very
best we can to get you your rights, so that at least you are dealt
with justly,” he assured the leaders and traders in the Nigerian
community in Ghana who interacted with him for over an hour.
Referring to efforts made in the past and even recently to
resolve the crisis, the Vice President said “I have followed
closely developments here, and many of the incidents that you have
described, I am already very familiar with. As a matter of fact,
the President had asked that a review of all that had taken place
be done.”
In his words, “there have been direct communications between our
President and President Akufo-Addo. Our President has spoken to him
about this, he has made a formal complaint to him, and that
conversation has been going on. What the Ghanaian government
pledged to do, on three occasions, was that the shops will be
reopened. In fact, I am a bit surprised that it has not taken place
because my understanding was that, that was going to be done.
“So, I think what we need to do aggressively is to follow-up
with the Ghanaian government and to see that these things are
done.”
Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo said “I am sure you are familiar with
the fact that there was a meeting between the Minister of Trade and
Industry of Ghana and a team led by our own Minister of Industry,
Trade and Investments in Abuja. That took place on the 3rd of
September, while the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila was meeting with his counterpart
here.
“Now, it is very evident from what you have said here that there
is so much that had gone wrong over a long period of time and we
really need to address these concerns in as detailed a manner as
possible. And what I can say to you is that this is a matter that
concerns the government very greatly…your welfare concerns us
greatly.”
The Vice President however urged all affected traders through
their associations and leaders to submit a more detailed letter
containing the number of affected shops and other relevant
information that would enable the Nigerian government follow-up
effectively their Ghanaian authorities.
He said “perhaps it might be important if we have specific
details of the shops that need to be reopened, so that we can check
and say how many (I think that at some point we had a list of about
160 or so, shops). So, I think we should have a list with specifics
so that even if we are told that something has been done, we can
cross check and see to it that it has actually taken place.”
The Vice President then urged Nigerians living in Ghana to
remain law abiding and to embrace peaceful coexistence, while
adding that both governments would resolve the differences.
“I think that is up to us now, to our two governments, and to
those of you who live here and Ghanaians who live in Nigeria, to
ensure that we are able to bring about peace and to live with each
other. Governments have serious roles to protect the lives of
citizens especially foreign citizens,” the VP added.
Earlier at the meeting, the First Vice President of the Nigerian
Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG), Chief Kizito Obiorah
and a publisher of an Online medium, Mr Destiny Austin Omon, took
turns to present copies of their petitions to the Vice President
before speaking about the numerous challenges faced by Nigerians in
Ghana especially. They called for an urgent intervention by the
Federal Government of Nigeria.
For Chief Obiorah, the situation is becoming unbearable as many
Nigerian traders whose shops had been locked since November 2019
have now resorted to begging to take care of their families.
The representative of the traders appealed to the Nigerian
government to prevail on their Ghanaian counterpart to reopen their
shops to enable them sell off their goods and return home to
Nigeria.
Supporting the traders’ associations’ position by detailing a
timeline of cases of rights infringements against Nigerians by
Ghanaian authorities, Mr Omon said Nigerians were fast losing their
self-esteem and dignity as a result of their maltreatment in the
hands of Ghanaian authorities.
On his part, the representative of Nigerian students, Mr.
Adebayo Ogunkoya called for improved support for Nigerian students
studying abroad and especially in Ghana, noting the peculiar
situation in the West African country.
Other officials at the meeting included the Minister of State
Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada; the President of NUTAG,
Chief Chukwuemeka Nnaji, some executives of the body, among
others.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media &
Publicity
Office of the Vice President