News:
November 8, 2019
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Frank Annoh Dompreh is advocating for the use of diplomatic means in addressing issue of trade in the wake of Nigeria closing its boarders, since August 21, 2019, resulting in some Ghanaian business men and women having their goods locked up.
According to the Nsawam Adoagryiri lawmaker, Ghana, Nigeria as well as Benin and Togo all members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should resole trade issues using diplomatic channels.
However, the affected countries can invoke the relevant protocols of the ECOWAS on free movement of goods and services, and pursue penal measure outlined in the ECOWAS provision against defaulting countries, if need be.
In a statement on the floor, he further added that the unilateral decision by Nigeria to close their boarder is also a matter for security and it is evident that this has become a habit, many have called on the ECOWAS Commission to address the issue in the upcoming ECOWAS summit this weekend.
Ghana does not disregard the intention of Nigeria to address smuggling of goods however, though the expression of the plight by legitimate enterprise, it is evident that steps taken have negatively affected businesses, he noted.
“Mr. Speaker, legitimate Nigerian traders also express their displeasure in the border closure, and it is increasingly becoming necessary that a swift movement from both the Ghanaian and Nigerian governments is needed to restore trade.
Again, the closure of the Nigerian boarder is not in the interest of ECOWAS as a block, as long as Nigeria remains part of ECOWAS, “they are expected to permit the protocols under ECOWAS to guide their action”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com