Closure of Nigerian Shops in Ghana is Xenophobia, says Senate leader

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has reacted to the recent closure of shops belonging to Nigerian citizens in Ghana, describing it as a clear case of Xenophobia.

According to ThisDay, Abaribe stated that the latest acts by the Ghanaian authorities against Nigerian traders were criminal and very disturbing.

The Senate minority leader who disclosed this on Sunday, August 23, in a release by his spokesman, Uchenna Awom, said the action of Ghana taken against nationals of other countries points to an endorsement of xenophobic attacks.

According to him, the Ghanaian authorities need to prove Nigerians wrong by putting a stop to closure of shops and attacks in compliance to the ECOWAS protocol.

He went on to note that the latest actions called to question the Ghanaian government’s real intentions towards Nigeria and Nigerians, despite reaching an agreement with the Ghana Investment Promotion Council on the issue.

Abaribe explained that the recent happenings are a clear conflict with ECOWAS protocol.

The senator described the situation as unfortunate while emphasizing, that Ghana has been enjoying a robust relationship with Nigeria.

Earlier, we reported that Nigerian traders in Ghana had been mandated by the Ministry of Trades to pay a $1m (N385,110,000) fee before they continue with their businesses.

A video had emerged in which a Nigerian trader lamented as his shop was being locked by Ghanaian security officials.

The man said he showed the security officials his business registration certificate and other documents but they still locked his shop.

He said Nigerians in Ghana are suffering, adding that he would not hesitate to sell his goods and return to his country if that is what the Ghanaian authorities want.

In a related development, following the treatment of Nigerian traders in Ghana recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken a very drastic measure as a way of ensuring lasting solutions.

On his Twitter page on Wednesday, August 19, the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, announced that the federal government has recalled the nation’s envoy to the West African country and that of the gold coast to Nigeria for consultations.

For reasons yet to be clarified, shops owned by Nigerians in Ghana were forcefully closed by government officials.