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Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by samituga: 3:18pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
1 Republic of Ghana MINISTRY OF INFORMATION P. O. BOX M 41, ACCRA Tel No: +233-(0)30-2227201 Fax No: +233-(0)30-2229786 EMAIL: info.moi@moi.gov.gh August 30, 2020 STATEMENT The Government of Ghana notes, with concern, a statement, dated Friday, August 28, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Information and Culture and signed by the Federal Minister, Hon. Lai Mohammed, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, concerning current relations between Ghana and Nigeria. Ghana remains committed to the maintenance of warm relations with all sister nations, particularly, for well-known historical reasons, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and will proceed to engage the Federal Government of Nigeria with a view to resolve comprehensively and exhaustively any matters that have the potential to sour relations between the two countries. Ghana finds it imperative, however, from the onset, to state, for the public record, that the outline of issues by my Nigerian counterpart is not reflective of the developments in Ghana. Any protests, decisions or actions based on these reports will, thus, be unjustified. We are obliged, therefore, as a first step, to provide our counterparts, as well as the Ghanaian and Nigerian publics, with a more reflective account of events, even as we pursue substantive diplomatic engagements to resolve matters. (I) Accusation: The seizure of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra which has been used as diplomatic premises by the Nigerian Government for almost 50 years; and which action, is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Response: This statement is inaccurate. The transaction was a commercial arrangement between Thomas D. Hardy, a private citizen and the High Commission of Nigeria in Ghana on 23rd October, 1959. The terms of the Commercial Lease expired 46 years ago, without any evidence of renewal by the High Commission of Nigeria in Ghana. The Government of Ghana was not involved in the transaction and has not seized the property in question. 2 (II) Accusation: 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 authority 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. Response: The Government of Ghana does not, did not and never owned the land, and has not been involved in the seizure of any property of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana. The land in question is owned by the Osu Stool and managed by the Lands Commission. In response to the claim that the lease on some of the properties owned by the Ghana Mission in Nigeria has long expired, it must be noted that the Government acquired a freehold land at Pope John Paul II Street in Abuja in 1989 through a commercial arrangement, and built the current structures on it. The staff of the Ghana High Commission in Abuja have been living there since the construction of the current structures. (III) Accusation: Demolition of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, which constitutes another serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Response: This statement is not factual. A search at the Lands Commission indicated that the Nigerian High Commission failed to complete the documentation process after paying for the land in the year 2000 A.D. The High Commission failed to acquire the Lease and Land Title Certificate, which constitute documentation for the said property, as well as a building permit for construction. In Ghana, land is owned not only by the Government, but also by Stools and Families. The demolition of the property was not carried out by agents of the Ghanaian Government, but by agents of the Osu Stool. Nonetheless, the Government of Ghana, valuing the relations between our two countries, has decided to restore the property, at its own cost, to its original state for the Nigerian High Commission, and has duly communicated same to the Nigerian Authorities. The Government of Ghana has also agreed to facilitate the proper acquisition of title by the Nigerian High Commission, as announced by Ghana’s Minister for Foregin Affairs at the time of the incident. 3 (IV) Accusation: Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana. Between January 2018 and February 2019, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five (825) Nigerians were deported from Ghana. Response: This statement is not factual. In 2019, seven hundred (700) Nigerians, who were found to have been involved in criminal activities such as fraud, prostitution, armed robbery etc., were deported. (V) Accusation: Residency permit requirement, for which 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$120, US$ 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 N700,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria). Response: It must be noted that all foreigners, who apply for resident permit in Ghana, pay same fees as stated above. These fees are not specific to Nigerians. (VI) Accusation: “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 against Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops.” Response: The statement is not factual. There is no media war against Nigerians in Ghana. There is also no negative reportage on Nigerian residents in Ghana by Ghanaian media, which could potentially lead to xenophobic attitude towards Nigerians, particularly Nigerian traders in Ghana. No Nigerian trader has been arrested. The closure of shops was as a result of infractions on Ghanaian laws. Even then, those affected who are not only Nigerians, have been given ample time to regularise their documents. Furthermore, no Nigerian- owned shops are currently closed. 4 On the contrary, the negative reportage has been against the Ghanaian Government from high places, (tweets by Foreign Minister of Nigeria and a Nigerian businessman, who appears to have political interests in Ghana), in Nigeria. This is inconsistent with established practice in our very good relations. The Press Release by the Information and Culture Minister of Nigeria is a clear departure from the manner in which officials of the two countries have related with each other in the past. (VII) Accusation: “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.” Response: Ghana has always demonstrated her commitment to excellent relations with Nigeria which is evidenced by the manner in which Ghanaian Government officials dealt with recent issues, which have had severe economic impact on our country. Ghana did not resort to any media war. However, the Ghanaian Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade travelled to Abuja to try to resolve diplomatically the issue of closure of Nigerian borders, and to seek safe corridor for ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) exports from Ghana, all to no avail. It is expected that the response of Nigerian Authorities to situations that evolve in our relations should be guided by the merits of the matter and our mutual interests. (VIII) Accusation: That three hundred (300), six hundred (600) and two hundred and fifty (250) shops belonging to Nigerians were closed down in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively Response: Upon evidence that some individuals, including Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians, had been involved in various forms of trade, without complying with the laws and regulations of Ghana, several engagements and prior advice had been given to encourage compliance. Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry personally intervened to ensure the reopening of closed shops, pending compliance with Ghana’s laws by their operators. 5 Among other corrective measures, the Committee on Foreigners in Retail Trade, comprising representatives of various regulatory agencies and institutions in Ghana, was tasked with the responsibility of conducting inspections of retail shops in designated commercial districts in both Accra and Kumasi to ensure compliance with retail trade laws and regulations. The compliance exercises conducted in the selected markets revealed gross violations of retail trade laws and regulations by Ghanaians and foreigners, including Nigerians. These violations included tax evasion, immigration offenses, trading in sub-standard products, violation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) law, improper registration of firms, under-payment of business operating permits, falsification of documents, among others. In all cases, non-compliant shop owners are given adequate notice to regularize their documents, before action is taken to close any shop/business. It is an incontestable fact that there is widespread abuse and disregard for local laws and regulations governing retail trade by some foreigners, including Nigerians, which need to be addressed without discrimination. It is important to note that the compliance exercise under reference is not restricted to either ECOWAS nationals or Nigerians for that matter, but extend to all individuals engaged in retail trade, including Ghanaians. (IX) Accusation: Harsh and openly biased judicial trial and pronouncements of indiscriminately long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. Response: Ghana’s courts, at all material times, function independently, and with strict respect for the Laws of Ghana, regardless of the nationalities of accused persons. Judges neither convict nor sentence with a bias for or against nationalities. Nigerians and Ghanaians convicted for same offenses are not treated differently. (X) Accusation: Outrageous stipulations and amendments of the GIPC Act. Response: It is untrue that the law has been amended twice, and, accordingly, there is no 2018 GIPC Act. Further, the statement that a review of the Act has increased the minimum capital base for foreign owned businesses to US$1.00m is false. Perhaps the reference is to sections 27 (2 & 3) of the GIPC Act and relate solely to persons who are not citizens but want to engage in retail trade or trading activities, which are otherwise restricted exclusively to Ghanaians. Accordingly, 6 ‘a person who is not a citizen may engage in a trading Enterprise if that person invests in the Enterprise, not less than One Million United States Dollars in cash or goods and services relevant to the investments. Trading includes purchasing and selling of imported goods and services. The amount does not relate to the broad universe of investors. We are also somewhat astonished to have the laws of a sovereign nation described as outrageous, especially since they have not attracted the rebuff or criticism of any regional organization, especially ECOWAS. The Federal Republic, on the other hand, is on record to have taken a number of steps in recent months, in pursuit of her national interests, which have gravely affected other countries in the Region. These include the closure of Nigeria’s Seme Krake Border from August 2019 to date and the issuance of executive orders by Nigeria’s Presidency, preventing foreigners from getting jobs which Nigerians can do, to mention a few. Ghana and other West African countries continue to believe redress to even actions like these can be sought, diplomatically, without resort to media statements and related activities that have the potential to aggravate further the situation. The aforementioned notwithstanding, the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who values very much his excellent relations with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadou Buhari, will engage President Buhari with a view to develop immediately a framework for validating claims of ill treatment of citizens of either country, and ensure citizens enjoy the full exercise of their rights, while respecting the sovereignty and laws of both countries. Ghana and Nigeria, as they have been doing, must continue to work together for a successful West Africa. -ENDKOJO OPPONG NKRUMAH (MP) MINISTER 1 Like |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by ThiagoKid(m): 3:23pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Are all dis ghanians madt ni? Who will read all this fvcking, useless long article??!!! Taaar..... 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by padi94(m): 3:30pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Ghana should just shut up... this current president is a Nigerian hater 3 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by samituga: 3:31pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
ThiagoKid:reason your government keep lying to you through their teeth. 5 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by samituga: 3:33pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
padi94:IF the kitchen is too hot just get out period 1 Like |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by padi94(m): 3:44pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
samituga: What are you saying mahn 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Vyzz: 3:51pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
This shid jes net meda our pipu
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Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Rugaria: 4:13pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
If Nigeria refuses to set example with Ghana, its only a matter of time before the likes of Guinea bisssau and cape Verde start humiliating Nigerias citizens for fun.. it has already started in places like Cameroon and Equitorial Guinea.. No matter how sweet the explanation of the Ghanaians, a decisive action should be unleashed by Nigeria to at least humble the current arrogant group of troublesome politicians in Accra. Cut gas pipeline? Impose trade sanctions? Abacha sponsored a coup in Niger! It's very obvious the current Ghanaian government holds Nigeria and her citizens in low esteem.. We do have our challenges here but that is not enough reason for every Tom Dicck and Harry to take turns killing Nigerians in West Africa of all places... But we have to face reality; this is Daurras Bubu and gang.., they will sleep off on this... There are more important things to do like defending"Libyans" killing Nigerians in Nigeria.. 7 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by samituga: 4:26pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Cut supply of gas to ghana? You must be living in the past omo niga.. we produce gas in gh infact we have a billion dollar gas plant in the western region.Trade btw us is negligible. There's nothing u produce that we cant buy from china. There's nothing that nigeria can do that can or will affect ghana to our knees.And remember there are more nigerians in ghana than ghanaians in nigeria. You shd proceed carefully with your actions. your government is just barking to make you guys happy. Rugaria: 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Eastlink(m): 4:52pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Ghanian propaganda. They think we are kids. 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Eastlink(m): 4:54pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
samituga:Do you know how many Ghanians are in Nigeria? Is it because we don’t harrass your people here. 11 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Eastlink(m): 4:54pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Excellent response by the FG. I suggest Nigeria temporarily withdraws from ECOWAS, just to get the rest of West Africa to sit straight.As shared by Rossinky 2 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by dalongjnr: 5:19pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
samituga:You don't know what you are saying. Be extremely careful with your village country. A country that doesn't have a buoyant economy of Lagos state have no right to talk in a community of nation. Bayelsa state has more gas/petroleum reserve than Ghana. The light you so boost about is generated by mostly gas supplied from Nigeria. In fact, you don't know your country. 5 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Notatribalist(m): 5:26pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
samituga:This fcking Ghanian spents all day on nairaland trying to defend Ghana..your eye go soon clear. 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by SIONKPO1(m): 5:26pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
The problem with Ghanaians is that they are afraid of competition from other nationals whereas they do their stuffs here unabatted 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Notatribalist(m): 5:28pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Eastlink:their envoy said over 500,000 Ghanians are living in Nigeria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7C3mC_Zt_c 1 Like |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by theenchanter: 5:34pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Too much comma( , ) in d early part of the statement bored me and made me lose interest in reading the rest, The writer abused d use of it. |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by onoja12: 5:58pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Keep backing ghana say it want to know Nigeria might,we would be happy to show them. quote author=samituga post=93391061] reason your government keep lying to you through their teeth.[/quote] |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by onoja12: 6:02pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Hate makes one dellusional,ghana whole economy is held be 35% nigeria funding.we would be distorying your economy so prepare for recession,we are simply waiting for our president to sign off .first thing first all 70,000 Nigerian student generating over 1billion usd to ghana economy would be recalled,the next steps i wouldnt disclose.prepare for hunger uote author=dalongjnr post=93394372] You don't know what you are saying. Be extremely careful with your village country. A country that doesn't have a buoyant economy of Lagos state have no right to talk in a community of nation. Bayelsa state has more gas/petroleum reserve than Ghana. The light you so boost about is generated by mostly gas supplied from Nigeria. In fact, you don't know your country.[/quote] |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by yemex04(m): 6:12pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
samituga: Are you so sure of the fact that Nigerians resident in Ghana are more than Ghanians in Nigeria..? Okay, let's not assume, kindly provide the figures Nigerians in Ghana and that of Ghanians in Nigeria.. Here in my hood, the Ghanians population are on the very high side here and they do all manners of work here and i am sure no one discriminates against them.. No one even cares about their nationality. 7 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by dalongjnr: 6:37pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
onoja12:Never mind! Ghana is not a threat to Nigeria in anyway. If not for inequality and mismanagement that befall Nigeria via bad leadership, Nigeria could have been the US of Africa and be competing with the like of Singapore. It's not late with basic infrastructure been put in place. It's just a matter of. The right season. |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by POKUASI2: 7:36pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
samituga:All we need do is just pull our banks and your economy collapse.. 4 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by POKUASI2: 7:50pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
yemex04:NIGERIANS in Ghana go to Ghana with cash and have invested in the IMF dependent, fragile Ghanaian economy whilst the Ghanaians in NIGERIA are economic migrants.. These people did everything within their power to make sure GLO didn't see the light of the day.. In which sectors are they not hostile to Nigeria.. From placing huge fine on NIGERIAN actors.. To calls by those in their movie sector for NIGERIAN movies to be banned from entering ghana. To the call for our music to be banned from airplay in the radio and TV stations.. To calls by morons like fuzz odj for Ghanaian DJs to stop playing NIGERIAN songs.. To call for cancellation of AFRIMA because it's a Nigerian franchise. To hateful comments by Ghanaians about Afronation.. To you as a Nigerian being single and called names just cos your phone ring and you speaking either in pidgin English or your native language.. To house not been rented to you cos you're a Nigerian.. To Ghanaians you supplied goods to refusing to pay you your money and their police siding with them against you. Truth is, you loose any case involving a Ghanaian, the moment you go the the police or Court. They're so hate filled of NIGERIANS that you're cursed for asking a Ghanaian direction.. In Accra, police harass you and extort money from you the moment they hear your NIGERIAN accent. 5 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by happy200(m): 7:50pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Many Nigerians now know who Ghanaians are, we don't need to call you names again or tell you who you are. This Border closure has revealed alot. Please go and enjoy lots of things you benefited from Nigeria's years of bad management and cry no more. |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by LadyExcellency: 7:56pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
Diplomacy no longer works, match force with force and see them begging for amicable settlement. 3 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by yemex04(m): 8:46pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
POKUASI2: Very pathetic Indeed.. |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by yemex04(m): 8:54pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
POKUASI2: This is very pathetic. Nigeria Government should really come hard on them this time. 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by spy24(m): 9:31pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
The whole of Ghana can't compare with port Harcourt a city in Nigeria . not to talk of Lagos Nigeria no they like to flex muscle .but if we retaliate what most of this African countries are doing to us they will suffer including south Africa 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by GeneralMarshall: 10:17pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
POKUASI2: Their problem is inferiority complex. The world knows we can crush them with our fingers, but as leader in Africa, we have to show maturity. 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by GeneralMarshall: 10:18pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
LadyExcellency: Nigeria as a leader should not be fighting Ghana. We are way bigger than that. The govt is in dilemma. But we would sort them out with time. 2 Likes |
Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Wiseandtrue(f): 10:22pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
samituga: I no blame you oooo jare The Ghanaian government are comfortable and are always free to 'shalaye' because they know that our president, major general for mouth cannot do shi shi The only place he can show his might are on innocent, harmless Nigerian citizens Yeye dey smell
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Re: Ghana Rejects Accusations By Nigeria, Moves For Diplomatic Engagements by Charmingrascal(m): 10:22pm On Aug 30, 2020 |
We need to Bleep Ghana up I am so enraged at these Akosua's 3 Likes |
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