Sequel to a face book video where a shop owned by a Nigerian was being allegedly locked by Ghanaian police, the Eze Ndigbo Ghana, HRM Eze Jude Chukwudi Ihenetu has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo to seek diplomatic solutions to the problem before it snowball into trade war.
In a statement made available to Daily Sun, the royal father lamented that as two giant nations that make up ECOWAS, unhealthy rivalry between the two West African brotherly countries would only lead to economic woes on the part of the citizens.
Speaking on the alleged closure of shops owned by Nigerians by Ghanaian Trade union officials,
said this action stem from a Ghanaians trade law, which forbids any foreign trader from retailing in Ghanaian open market. He said the officials were only enforcing existing laws in order to protect local trader from their foreign counterparts.
On how both countries can find solutions to the problem; the royal father appealed to the Ghanaian government to temper justice with mercy by allowing the traders to continue with their business. He also urge the Ghanaian government to stop the Trade Union from taking laws into their hands by indiscriminately closing Nigerian shops.” Nigeria needs Ghana and Ghana needs Nigeria in order to attain economic prosperity within the ECOWAS sub region. Nigerians should be able to go to Ghana and feel at home while Ghanaians should also be able to come to Nigeria and do likewise.
Similarly, Eze Ihenetu also call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to review the border closure policy, which has adversely affected trade and commerce between both countries.
He said with COVID-19 easing off, Nigeria should also look for means of opening the border so as to ease the economic tension caused by the border closure.
On the effect trade war could cause both countries, Eze Ihenetu said closure of Nigerian business shops in Ghana could lead to capital flight as most Nigerians affected by the unfavorable policy could relocate their business and wealth elsewhere.
On Nigerian side, the royal father said lost of source of livelihood could result in increase in crime with its devastating consequences. He said with both countries already suffering from economic downturn caused by COVID-19, this is not the best time for rivalry. “Now is the time to come together and forge economic plans that will see both countries helping other smaller countries in West Africa to come out of economic recession,” he said.