The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and the Nigeria Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG), have commended the ECOWAS Parliament for its timely intervention which prevented a government policy aimed at cracking down Nigerian businesses in Ghana.
According to a letter to the Speaker of the sub-regional Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Nigerian business community in Ghana said the intervention by ECOWAS Parliament which flowed from the Speaker’s decision to table their petition for debate saved what would have been a bad situation, not just for the Nigerian business community, but other ECOWAS Nationals in Ghana.
The communication which was jointly signed by the Secretariat President of NANTS, Ken Ukaoha and Secretary-General of NUTAG, Comrade Jasper Emenike read in
part: “We write to express our sincere appreciation for the swift response and expeditious intervention of the ECOWAS Parliament under your distinguished leadership, over the threats, harassment and intimidation meted out by the Ghana Authorities on ECOWAS nationals living and doing business in Ghana.
“We note with appreciations that it was based on this swift intervention that the Government of Ghana announced the suspension of the implementation of the four-month ultimatum in relation to the planned closure of shops and subsequent deportation of Nigeria and ECOWAS Traders in Ghana over the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Foreign Investment Act, 1994.”
The Nigerian business associations which also called for the establishment of ECOWAS Regional Markets in at least four different parts of the sub-region to assume the status and benefits of a free trade zone for the promotion regional trade and made-in-West Africa goods and services, extolled the vibrant and visionary leadership which Senator Ekweremadu had brought to bear on ECOWAS Parliament and regional integration.
They said: “We cannot wholly express our gratitude to God for making you a leader in ECOWAS at this time in history when the region is faced with several challenges ranging from political, security, economic, and their social dimensions.
“We are happy to announce to the world that what could have resulted in crises, unrest and perhaps, diplomatic upheaval within the Regional Economic Community has been averted through your most visionary leadership”
The associations which said they were also concerned about the protection of other ECOWAS nationals living and doing business in Ghana, urged the Community Parliament to “dig deep to the root of the matter” to find a permanent solution to the perennial problem which they said was located in “practical actualization of integration of the region” and adherence to relevant ECOWAS Protocols.