Nemere2020:
PRESS RELEASE

Nigeria Will No Longer Tolerate Harassment of Its Citizens in Ghana - FG

The Nigerian Government is deeply concerned by the incessant harassment of its citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities, and will no longer tolerate such.

In this regard, the Federal Government is urgently considering a number of options aimed at ameliorating the situation.

The Federal Government has been documenting the acts of hostility towards Nigeria and Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities. These include:

- Seizure of the Nigerian Mission's property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years. This action is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention.

- Demolition of the Nigerian Mission's property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, another serious breach of
the Vienna Convention.

- Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana.
Between Jan. 2018 and Feb. 2019, 825 Nigerians were deported from Ghana.

- Closure of shops belonging to Nigerians. Over 300 Nigerians shops were locked for four months in Kumasi in 2018; over 600 Nigerian shops were locked in 2019 and, currently, over 250 Nigerians shops have been locked.

- Residency Permit requirements, for which the Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees, far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

These include the compulsory Non-citizen ID card (US$120, and US$60 for yearly renewal); Medical examinations, including for Covid-19 which is newly-introduced (about US$120), and payment for residency permit (US$400 compared to the N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria)

- Outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act. When the Act was initially promulgated in 1994, a foreigner is required to invest at least US$300,000 by way of equity capital and also employ 10 Ghanaians.

This Act has now been amended twice, with the 2018 GIPC Act raising the minimum capital base for foreign-owned businesses to US$1m. Though targeted at foreigners, it seems GIPC's definition of foreigners is Nigerians. The GIPC Act also negates the ECOWAS Protocol.

- Media war against Nigerians in Ghana. The negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general.

The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops.
- Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians.

There are currently over 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana alone.

The Federal Government will like to put on record the fact that even though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not
being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana.

Also, Even though the main reason given for the seizure of Federal Government property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal of lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authorities did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease.

By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized. Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana.

But indications, especially in recent times, are that Nigeria's stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule.

This will no longer be tolerated under any guise.

In the meantime, the Federal Government wishes to appeal to its citizens resident in Ghana to remain law abiding and avoid engaging in self help, despite their ordeal.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed
Honourable Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
28 Aug. 2020
https://twitter.com/FMICNigeria/status/1299327948978376708?s=19

ERockson:
Instead of calling Ipob that want to turn Ghana to Lagos to order. Ghana is only been proactive in protecting their citizens interest. Forget about ECOWAS bullshit. Nigerians should stop embarrassing our dignity around small Africa countries in the manner they run to those small countries in the name of hustling or business. Nigerians especially the easterners should stop this madness so that we can be respected

[/quote][quote author=edoairways post=93326609]
Benin Republic imports rice from Thailand to sell to Nigeria but they were reluctant to pay custom duties. To checkmate these excesses, the government had to ban importation of goods from that country,. Ghanaian were unfortunate because there is no way their products wouldn't pass the borders without involving benoniose. The Nigerian government said they should use the sea borders so what is your fuss?

Goldencheese:
Empty threat. A serious government would take punitive actions not threaten to do so.

Rugaria:
Do something.... Use one of these west African countries to set some examples.. Escalate! Force a commotion... It will force their hands somewhat! In igbo land we say that if the snake refuses to act like a snake, kids will use it to tie cooking woods! Escalate the situation and put up some sort of zero-sum game... Cut of any stuff they benefit from ecowas/Nigeria for a start.. Force them to blink first. Put your weighty knee on their kante kneck..

Christistruth00:


Ghanaian Govt also asked NIgerian traders to invest $1 million before doing business in Ghana

I assume you have no fuss about this too.

By now it should be obvious to you that Ghana is not happy with the Border Closure.

ERockson:
Instead of calling Ipob that want to turn Ghana to Lagos to order. Ghana is only been proactive in protecting their citizens interest. Forget about ECOWAS bullshit. Nigerians should stop embarrassing our dignity around small Africa countries in the manner they run to those small countries in the name of hustling or business. Nigerians especially the easterners should stop this madness so that we can be respected

ERockson:
Instead of calling Ipob that want to turn Ghana to Lagos to order. Ghana is only been proactive in protecting their citizens interest. Forget about ECOWAS bullshit. Nigerians should stop embarrassing our dignity around small Africa countries in the manner they run to those small countries in the name of hustling or business. Nigerians especially the easterners should stop this madness so that we can be respected

Christistruth00:


How come NIgeria's border closure stopped Alafia bitters and other Ghana made goods from entering Nigeria?

Don't you know this is part of what angered the Ghanaians?

Notatribalist:
And who told Alafia and alomo bitters were stopped from entry Nigeria, don't say what you don't knw.

Christistruth00:


To be honest Nigeria's borders were closed to protect Nigerians and Nigerian businesses .

Ghana is doing the same thing. How can businesses which were never given the chance to germinate compete in an international level ? Ghana is encouraging their entrepreneurs.
Imagine If restrictions were not put on the Chinese in Nigeria who can compete with them? They will dominate everything because their Government helped them grow to become a major Economic force. Everyone should encourage their indigenous talent first.

Outsiders oughtt to help develop the new sectors with good potential in the Country not be competing with inexperienced Citizens who are trying to set up their own business.

ERockson:
Instead of calling Ipob that want to turn Ghana to Lagos to order. Ghana is only been proactive in protecting their citizens interest. Forget about ECOWAS bullshit. Nigerians should stop embarrassing our dignity around small Africa countries in the manner they run to those small countries in the name of hustling or business. Nigerians especially the easterners should stop this madness so that we can be respected

Rossinky:


Excellent response by the FG. I suggest Nigeria temporarily withdraws from ECOWAS, just to get the rest of West Africa to sit straight.

Nigeria contributes nearly 80% of all ECOWAS funds and those funds help with so many things, from regional security to emergency food and health supplies.

The Nigerian GDP is 75% of West Africa's GDP. West Africa has 14 nations that basically depend on Nigeria for their survival.

Nigeria should LEAVE ECOWAS for them, and ask Nigerian businesses in Ghana to return home.

3 of the top 5 banks in Ghana are Nigerian banks. Order them to withdraw immediately from Ghana, let us see how the Ghana economy can withstand that shock to their system. That move alone will plunge their economy into recession in a matter of days.

Also, 70,000 Nigerian students are in Ghanaian universities, and they are made to pay in dollars there. This brings in billions of dollars to Ghanaian coffers each year. Nigeria should declare that it will not recognise degrees from Ghanaian universities henceforth, and end that phenomenon.

Let us see how long before Ghana gets their head straight after these measures.

If they continue their madness, the FG should consider sponsoring rebel movements in northern Ghana and neighbouring Burkina Faso to infiltrate and destabilize that country, and effect regime change in favour of a more pro-Nigeria administration.

Do you know that Ghana hasn't got a single fighter jet?

Not one. I've done the research. Their military is ranked 28th in Africa, while Nigeria is 3rd or 4th. Even Burkina Faso is ranked above them militarily.

They are very weak and vulnerable to military/terrorist/rebel attacks, and have spent very little on their military, because their government has taken it for granted that Nigerian forces will defend them like we did in Liberia, Sierra leone, Gambia etc, in the event of a crisis.

No more.

Ghana have become too proud and arrogant at the peace and relative prosperity they have garnered using the regional economic and security umbrella that Nigeria has provided the sub-region over the last 20 years.

They must be taught a lesson they will never forget.

ofiko123:
Nice one... Abike Dabiri is working LATE..Nigeria sai Buhari..

Rossinky:


Excellent response by the FG. I suggest Nigeria temporarily withdraws from ECOWAS, just to get the rest of West Africa to sit straight.

Nigeria contributes nearly 80% of all ECOWAS funds and those funds help with so many things, from regional security to emergency food and health supplies.

The Nigerian GDP is 75% of West Africa's GDP. West Africa has 14 nations that basically depend on Nigeria for their survival.

Nigeria should LEAVE ECOWAS for them, and ask Nigerian businesses in Ghana to return home.

3 of the top 5 banks in Ghana are Nigerian banks. Order them to withdraw immediately from Ghana, let us see how the Ghana economy can withstand that shock to their system. That move alone will plunge their economy into recession in a matter of days.

Also, 70,000 Nigerian students are in Ghanaian universities, and they are made to pay in dollars there. This brings in billions of dollars to Ghanaian coffers each year. Nigeria should declare that it will not recognise degrees from Ghanaian universities henceforth, and end that phenomenon.

Let us see how long before Ghana gets their head straight after these measures.

If they continue their madness, the FG should consider sponsoring rebel movements in northern Ghana and neighbouring Burkina Faso to infiltrate and destabilize that country, and effect regime change in favour of a more pro-Nigeria administration.

Do you know that Ghana hasn't got a single fighter jet?

Not one. I've done the research. Their military is ranked 28th in Africa, while Nigeria is 3rd or 4th. Even Burkina Faso is ranked above them militarily.

They are very weak and vulnerable to military/terrorist/rebel attacks, and have spent very little on their military, because their government has taken it for granted that Nigerian forces will defend them like we did in Liberia, Sierra leone, Gambia etc, in the event of a crisis.

No more.

Ghana have become too proud and arrogant at the relative peace and prosperity they have enjoyed under the regional economic and security umbrella that Nigeria has provided the sub-region over the last 20 years.

They must be taught a lesson they will never forget.

Crownstar01:
Exactly. If I were the Ghanaian government, I will ask all Nigerians to leave.

A useless country with a useless government.

Christistruth00:




https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://nairametrics.com/2019/10/22/ghanas-alomo-bitters-loses-2-million-to-border-closure/&ved=0ahUKEwi1tOzZvr7rAhXjQkEAHVq1BeUQxfQBCDAwAQ&usg=AOvVaw2AV6nGon5pAjUDVDSlWZCm

Rossinky:


BRAINLESS COMMENT.

America 'tolerates' a homicide rate of 70,000 per annum.

Does that mean they will sit down and let you harass their citizens in a foreign country? No. So use your brain. It's not there for decoration.

WoundedLamb:


Cooking wood?

rampantlover:


Typical Nigerian, foolish, loud, irrational and full of foolish pride. What are you waiting for? No wonder are nuisance anywhere you go on this earth.