Nigeria and Ghana began talks to improve in bilateral relations arising from the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Ghana.
Senior government officials from both countries have met in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the diplomatic crisis.
The row is partly fueled by a Ghanaian law requiring a capital base of $1 million for businesses owned and or operated by foreigners.
Nigerian House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, traveled to Accra with the hopes of reaching an amicable resolution.
Gbajabiamila said Nigeria and its people are worried by the challenges that Nigerian traders face in Ghana and called for urgent action to end the hostilities.
He added that at a time the world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic impacts, this is not a time for conflict and disagreements, but a time for partnership and solidarity.
“We do believe that while it is the sovereign right of the government of Ghana to pass and implement the GIPC Act, we would implore you to explore alternative and less aggressive options of engaging, sanctioning and relating with our traders and business people who operate in your country, pay taxes and contribute to the development of both our nations,” said Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila also explained many Africans, not just traders from Nigeria, are small businesses and meeting the $1 million requirement Ghana wants is difficult.
“The prospect of them being able to raise a capital base of $1,000,000 before they can trade in goods that may be worth less than $1,000, clearly is a major challenge.”
He urged the legislatures of both countries to embrace legislative diplomacy to assist the executive branches of Nigeria and Ghana to resolve the diplomatic row and also offered to help broker a deal to improve the bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and Ghana.
“We would like to explore the possibility of jointly passing what we could potentially call a Nigeria-Ghana Friendship Act – or something in that line, which will help to cement into law the good relations between our countries and also create a legal framework for further camaraderie that will enable us to ensure that, when it comes to Nigeria and Ghana, our laws will support efforts to improve relations, trade and positive and friendly interactions between our citizens, institutions and our governments.”
The Ghanaian Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Alan Kyeremateng, said there are many Ghanaians and Nigerians who are going about their lawful duties without difficulties.
“The incidence that has occurred where some shops were locked up must have arisen out of situations where there were clear abuses of the application of the laws,” Kyeremateng said. “I was happy that the Nigerian Speaker of the House of Representatives mentioned that if they are doing legitimate business, please allow them as brothers and sisters to continue to do so. I want to give you that assurance that that will be the case. Anybody engaged in business, trading, doing the rightful things, they must have no difficulties.”
