Month: September 2020

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pledged to do whatever is necessary to strengthen the already-strong relations between Ghana and Nigeria.

According to him, it is important for the progress of West Africa and indeed Africa that Ghana and Nigeria are seen to be working together and has assured that the two countries would continue down that path.

The president made this known on Thursday September 3, 2020 when the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Rt Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House, at the end of his two day visit to Ghana at the invitation of the Ghana’s Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye.

Welcoming the Nigerian Speaker and his delegation to Ghana, President Akufo-Addo explained that when the statement from the Nigerian Minister of Information, “warning Ghana over incessant harassment of Nigerians” came out he was very much alarmed.

“I was alarmed because, if they were the sentiments and attitudes of the Federal Government of Nigeria, then we were in a really serious problem”, he said.

President Akufo-Addo continued by saying, “I thought it is best I speak to Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari) as soon as possible, which I did and then I was informed by the Speaker of (Ghana’s Parliament) that he had taken an independent course of action in the matter by speaking to you (Speaker of the Nigerian’s Parliament) and invited you to come to Ghana to talk about the issues that emerged from the statement”, he said.

And commended Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila for taking up the invitation and as a result of the meeting between the two countries the way forward is acceptable to him.

Again, the idea of legislation to promote a Ghana-Nigeria Business Council, that will have superintendence over trade and investment matters between the two countries is well overdue and added that, it is events that produce institutions, and the time has come for it to be done, he said.

In addition, it would be a good idea to set up a joint Ministerial Committee for the Ministers of both sides who would be responsible for shepherding Ghana-Nigeria issues and reporting to both presidents at any time when matters occur and how they should be resolved.

And urged Ghanaians and Nigerians to build on the strong relations that have existed between the two countries at the very least to make sure that the current status quo is preserved.

He assured Speaker Gbajabiamila that the Nigerian population in Ghana are safe and many of them have lived for centuries trading and doing business in Ghana without any difficulties, and the culture of cooperation and brotherliness will continue.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Speakers of the Ghanaian Parliament and his Nigerian counterpart of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Professor Aaron Michael Ouaye and Rt. Hon. Olufemi Gbajabiamila have held talks to find solutions to the challenges brought about as a result of Ghana implementing the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) Act 20 Act 865.

Their discussions so far have been on how the implementation of the Act 865 can be implemented in a manner that would not render Nigerian traders in Ghana jobless since most of them have their shops closed and some fines levied at them in accordance with provisions of Act 865.

Ghana’s sovereignty and national interest in the matter has been at the front burner in all the discussions held so far.

Participants in the discussions included a twelve member delegation from Nigeria, Ghana’s Trade Minister, the Minister for National Security, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Chief  Executive Officer of the GIPC, Chairman and Deputy Ranking on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Clerk of Ghana’s Parliament and some key parliamentary staff.

Speaker Gbajabiamila in his submission yesterday referred to the economic, social and political ties that bind Ghana and Nigeria together and urged that the two countries use legislative diplomacy to resolve the issues confronting both countries.

He said it is most appropriate since Ghana’s Speaker had on previous occasions worked together, using the same tools to resolve economic issues not between only the two countries but in the sub region.

Professor Oquaye on his part assured his vising counterpart of Ghana’s good intentions and also pointed out that reports on the matter may have escalated tensions and cautioned that private or commercial arrangements between individuals and organisations of the two countries should not be confused with governments’ engagements.

He also encouraged the use of diplomacy in the resolution between both countries, as both countries are keen on finding a lasting solution to the matter.

Ghana’s Trade Minister, Alan Kyeremanteng further explained the context of the GIPC Act and its implementation and said that it was not targeted at any particular nationals and definitely not Nigerians.
And outlined ways by which the two countries can have mutual trade relations with the requisite benefits.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Speaker of Nigerians House of Representatives, Rt. Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila has said he is hopeful that his arrival in Ghana would be mutually acceptable to resolve the trade dispute that has erupted between Nigeria and Ghana.

He is leading a delegation of lawmakers from the House of Representatives to meet Ghana’s Speaker, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye.

Welcoming the Nigerian delegation, the Ghanaian Speaker Professor Oquaye expressed confidence of an amicable resolution of the impasse and hope the two days would bring beautiful reunion to the two nations.

Whiles in the country, the leader of the Nigerian Union of Traders in Ghana, Chukwuemeka Levi Nnaji, informed the delegation at the Nigerian High Commission that Nigerian traders have registered their trade with the appropriate agencies and paid their taxes as and when it is due.

Yet since 2007 they have been allegedly subjected to harsh treatments by the Ghanaian authorities and appealed to the speaker of the House of Representatives to initiate moves to ensure that there is resolution and should be implemented by the Ghanaian authority.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com