Nigerian traders protest Ghanaian authorities’ refusal to open locked shops

The Nigeria Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) has carried out a peaceful protest over Ghanaian authorities’ refusal to open shops owned by Nigerians in that country.

The President of NUTAG, Chukwuemeka Nnaji, who led the protest, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that Ghanaian authorities’ refused to open their shops since 2019.

He noted that the Ghanaian authorities’ refusal to open the traders’ shops was despite several meetings between top officials of both governments of Nigeria and Ghana.

He said that the protest was to press the Ghanaian authorities to open shops owned by Nigerians living in Ghana, to enable them tackle economic challenges amid COVID-19.

According to him, the shops owned by Nigerians under lock and key since past one year should be opened to enable the traders to return to normal businesses. He urged the Nigerian government to evacuate willing traders back to Nigeria.

Mr Nnaji said: “I am in talks in with my leader, Mr Ken Okoha, National President of Nigerian Traders, and he has assured us that he will take our case up to the highest level in Nigeria.

“In fact, plans are on for him to move to institutions that are related to trade; I have known him for five years now and I know what he is able to do.

“I am rest assured that the leadership of Nigerian traders are working towards achieving this goal; some of you, who still have funds, should also continue to help other traders.

“Be law-abiding citizens, COVID-19 is still on and lots of businesses are affected; many of us are living from hand to mouth due to the downturn.

“If you do not have anything to do, stay at home; rest assured that at the end of October, if we are not evacuated, we will keep ourselves at the border.”

Receiving the traders, Easter Arewa, Charge de Affair of Nigeria High Commission in Ghana, said that government would remain committed to protecting Nigeria citizens.

According to her, the letter by Nigerian traders has been well received and their message will be conveyed to the highest authority.

“Government is not resting on your case; it is because of you Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of House of Representatives, came to Ghana.

“Likewise, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was here. In spite of his busy schedule, he came here and met with the leadership of NUTAG. He promised to continue with the cause on his return to Abuja.

“He has not failed; very soon your situation will be addressed because a hungry man is an angry man. It is not nice to hear that in a brotherly country as Ghana, you are being treated like this.

“We have Ghanaians in Nigeria too and they are treated as brothers, so do not worry. It is a government-to-government dialogue.