Senator Calls On Ghana to Re-open Shops of Citizens

A Nigerian Senator has called on the Government of the Republic of Ghana to order the reopening of shops belonging to Nigerians who have been shut down in that country.

Speaking to Senate Correspondents yesterday, Senetor Joel Danlami Ikenya, said the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre last year shut down some shops belonging to Nigerian businessmen in that country.

He said: "After series of dialogue between the Nigerian Minister of Commerce and his Ghanaian counterpart together with the ECOWAS Commission president, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the shops are yet to be reopened."

The Senator said as part of the ECOWAS free trade zones, "Nigerians in Ghana are supposed to be allowed to do their legitimate business without hindrance. We are not speaking for those who are involved in illicit trades but for those who are into legitimate business, we call on Ghana to allow them."

He said the two country benefits from their bi-lateral relations saying, "Nigeria still supplies power to Ghana."

According to the Senator, several Nigerian traders in Ghana have had their businesses grounded since last year while all efforts to get them reopened have proved abortive.

He promised to continue with the efforts to solve the matter saying, "There may be need for a proper motion to be moved in the Senate."

Nigerians living in various African countries have been made to suffer untold hardships. Recently, some Nigerians were repatriated from Libya while many others are said to be languishing in that country's jails.