Nigerians in Ghana Laud Gbajabiamila over Intervention in Trade Dispute

The Nigeria-Ghana Business Council and the Nigeria Union of Traders
Association Ghana (NUTAG) have commended the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for his intervention in the
dispute between the traders and the government of Ghana.

Members of the Nigeria-Ghana Business Council through their President,
Omoba Ademiluyi, said that the Speaker’s visit to Ghana has made
positive impact and paved the way for an amicable resolution to the
trade dispute.

In a letter of appreciation and commendation dated September 5 and
addressed to Gbajabiamila, the council said: “It is on record that
your trip brought about the highest involvement of both governments in
this dispute that has been on since 2007. Your proposals and
presentations have given rise to two very vital solutions to the
problem. The review of the GIPC Act demanding $1,000,000 deposit for
foreign investors in Ghana as it concerns Nigerians. The promotion of
the Nigeria-Ghana Business Council backed by legislation to
superintend on trade and business issues between the two countries.

“Our objectives and activities align with the proposal which is being
introduced to superintend trade issues of the two countries. It is,
therefore, our wish to express support for the formation of this
council and request that we work with your team to see to a successful
emergence of a government-backed Business Council.”

On its part, NUTAG in another letter dated September 6, said that
Gbajabiamila’s visit and engagement with the Ghanaian authorities were
timely and a right step in the right direction.

In the letter, signed by the association’s President, Chief
Chukwuemeka Nnaji, NUTAG urged the Speaker not to despair in ensuring
that resolutions reached during the interface are implemented by all
concerned parties.

Nnaji, however, stated that a lot of Nigerian traders in Ghana are
finding things difficult as their means of livelihood have been shut
down.

The traders appealed to the Nigerian Government to engage with the
Ghanaian Government to reopen the said shops pending an enduring
solution to the impasse.

According to the letter, “Your Excellency, please, allow me to seize
this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of
the Nigerian Union of Traders Association of Ghana (NUTAG), for your
kind, responsible and timely intervention to quell the much travails
we have been experiencing at the hands of Ghanaian authorities and our
Ghanaian counterpart, Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).

“Sir, the leadership of NUTAG and all Nigerian traders in Ghana, as
well as other Nigerians living in Ghana, deeply appreciate your recent
visit to Ghana in order to try and resolve the lingering trade impasse
between Ghana and Nigeria; in unison, we hail this as the right step
in the right direction.

“The move at once displays that the Government of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria led by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has all
Nigerian citizens very close at heart, both at home and abroad. We are
indeed very grateful to you and the entire team who embarked on this
journey, and we are optimistic that an end to our travails in Ghana is
at hand.”