Since the government of Ghana enacted the law banning foreigners from involving themselves in retail businesses, the Igbo community in Ghana has been living in fear of their lives.
The law was supposed to affect all foreigners but Family Writers Press found our that, the Ghanaians are indeed targeting only Igbo Businesses. In particular, the spare parts dealers.
At Suame-Magazine district of Kumasi, Ghana, the Ghanaians there have since taken the enforcement of the law in their hands. Which they enforce with a massive dose of Xenophobia.
"For two weeks now they've forced us to stay indoors. We can't go to our businesses. You cannot even dare go close to your shops. If we try it, the youths of Suame-Magazine have promised to burn and loot our shops. They want us to give them all our goods on credit and leave empty handed.", Mr Nwafor Akajiofo told Family writers press via a telephone call.
Success breeds jealousy, and that is at the root of this recent tension between Ghana businessmen and their Igbo counterparts in particular.
The Chairman of Igbo traders Union in Suame-Magazine, Mr Kizito Ikechukwu Obiora, informed our correspondent that "the so called retail law is just a subtle way of expressing their jealousy over our success. The law is not affecting the Hausa-Fulani community in Alaba, Kumasi. It is not affecting Yoruba businessMen in Abuabo (Kumasi). The only place that law is enforced is here in Suame-Magazine where there is a huge presence of Ndi igbo who are into motor spare parts."
Mr Kizito continued that, "The Ghanaians are not happy. We came here and showed them you can become a millionaire by dealing in motor spare parts. They now felt they Have mastered the business and want us to leave, in other to eliminate all competition and dominate the market. That is the truth Of the Matter."
What is the position of the Ghanaian Government?
The Ghanaian Minister for Trade and Investment, was in Abuja last week and told the Nigerian Foreign affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyema that the law doesn't affect citizens from ECOWAS countries. But the fact remains that Nigerians are the only ones targeted by the Law, and Igbo businesses appears to be the specific target.
Mazi Ikechukwu Obiora and Nwafor Akajiofo, expressed their displeasure at the way the Ghana security forces seems to be acting in complicity with the youths of Suame.
"Three days ago the youths went to the shop of one Joe Obi, who is related to the secretary to the State Government of Imo, the man was in Nigeria, and left the shop to his workers. They beat everyone there, looted the shop. But just opposite the shop was a business owned by a Lebanese And another owned by a Malian, It was left untouched. We have businesses here owned by citizens from many African countries, no one attacks them except we Igbo business men. It's not fair .", he lamented.
Mr Nwafo lamented further, "few years ago when this kind of things happen, we make a call to an official at the Embassy, and they will work together with the Police here and before you know it they send protection for us. But now the officials at the embassy, including the ambassador who is a Yoruba man, is giving us the impression that we are on our own. And we get their message loud and clear. For two weeks now we can't even move a few kilometers to our shops. We conduct midnight trips on our own shops to retrieve our wares- the once they haven't looted. The youths and the elders here are insisting we leave. They said even if we reach an agreement with their government, they will continue to harass and burn our shops till we leave. We need help my brother, we certainly need help."
__________________________
Mr Nwafor Akajiofo and Mr Kizito Ikechukwu Obiora were speaking to mazi Ikeyahkadibia Onyeji who complied this report for Family writers Press.

I think they should call on AU, Ecowas and UN including human rights international for serious and urgent help because Nigeria will never help them.

Buhari led administration might even encourage Ghana to make the law more severe.

Since the government of Ghana enacted the law
banning foreigners from involving themselves in
retail businesses, the Igbo community in Ghana
has been living in fear of their lives.
The law was supposed to affect all foreigners but
Family Writers Press found our that, the
Ghanaians are indeed targeting only Igbo

After developing Ghana, they decided to send us away and kill us.

Awon developers yii sha!

Its good to welcome other people business in your place for you to be welcomed somewhere.

I dont understand in Nigeria Igbos are marginalized, in South Africa targeted by Xenophobia, There must be something really wrong... The question is out of all the foreigners in Ghana including other Nigerian ethnic group why are Igbos been targeted? If they are not targeting every other ECOWAS country, especially other Nigeria ethnic groups but only IGBOS, then there is something wrong with the Igbo people. If you can not tolerate your hosts and feel superior over them you will always have this kind of problem.

This is state backed xenophobia

Sad indeed

Anyways do ghanahians own retail.businessses in Nigeria ?

Hopebringer:
This is state backed xenophobia

Sad indeed

Anyways do ghanahians own retail.businessses in Nigeria ?

Ya, puff puff frying, akara frying, "coblering" are their retailing activities here.

stop spreading false news. https://www.nairaland.com/4675573/fresh-38-corpses-ipob-members
https://www.nairaland.com/4676953/tension-ghana-ghanaians-loot-igbo

YourImaginaryBF:
stop spreading false news.
https://www.nairaland.com/4675573/fresh-38-corpses-ipob-members

https://www.nairaland.com/4676953/tension-ghana-ghanaians-loot-igbo

What is ur problem actually.....why not verify the news before commenting......




Verify that's why the elites research for important info.

Juliusmalema:


What is ur problem actually.....why not verify the news before commenting......




Verify that's why the elites research for important info.

what's there to verify? No photos, no clips, not even a link. u just posting garbage

I won’t be surprised, when you go everywhere with your lousy mouth this is what happens to you. The lessons they refuse to teach themselves will be learned from outside. For every ounce of proud a nice dose of black lash will do no harm.

YourImaginaryBF:
what's there to verify? No photos, no clips, not even a link. u just posting garbage

Is a fact....decode the link on ur own....more if u read well Igbos are not calling Nigerian to help them coz they know Nigeria won't....they are calling international community like Ecowas, AU and UN to help them out...

So what's ur stress.

So IBO's again.

Juliusmalema:


Is a fact....decode the link on ur own....more if u read well Igbos are not calling Nigerian to help them coz they know Nigeria won't....they are calling international community like Ecowas, AU and UN to help them out...

So what's ur stress.

you're the only one reporting it which makes it false claim.

YourImaginaryBF:
you're the only one reporting it which makes it false claim.

Is every where on social media and on newspapers.

I'm supposed to feel angst and disappointment with the Ghanaians, hatred even, if this story is true, but then I cast my mind back a few decades and I remember 'Ghana-Must-Go'. Then I feel empathy.

Sad it had to be Igbos sha, but I guess that's because they're majorly into business. The whole world don see Nigeria finish.

Juliusmalema:




Is every where on social media and on newspapers.

Give me newspaper links, most things posted on social media are not true, just like the one u just posted.

YourImaginaryBF:
Give me newspaper links, most things posted on social media are not true, just like the one u just posted.

Please leave me....i don't discuss with afenifere.

Y wont they ask d igbos 2 leave wen dey all read criminology..if u knw, u knw
Bt wait ooo shld dey be pursuing d Egbons
Bcz nah dem carry heavy weight championship....lols