Nigerian traders in Ghana have on Wednesday called on the Nigerian government to evacuate them from the country over alleged harassment, threat to life and harsh business environment.
The traders, in a Save-Our-Soul letter delivered to the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said they are seeking a secure and peaceful return to Nigeria.
Gabriel Odu, NiDCOM’s Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, in a statement expressed that the traders belonged to two associations in Ghana, the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) and the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS).
Read Also: Nigerian Traders In Ghana Decry Closure Of Shops Over $1m Tax (video)
According to Odu, the evacuation letter, endorsed by 753 traders in the two associations, was delivered by a delegation led by the President of NANTS, Dr Ken Ukaoha.
In the letter, the traders explained that their evacuation had become necessary because of the constant and consistent harassments, intimidation, torture, threat to their lives and the total lockdown of their means of livelihood in Ghana.
This comes against the backdrop of the imposition of $1m business equity on non-Ghanaians as well as other conditions.
They alleged that as a result of their inability to pay the fee, their shops had been locked for almost one year by the Ghanaian authorities, stressing;
More so, since all diplomatic niceties at the highest level between Nigeria and Ghana have not yielded positive results, they are left with no choice than to ask for evacuation.
Now, landlords are coming to ask us for rent. How do we pay with our shops locked up for so long; were are dying here.
Receiving the delegation, Dabiri-Erewa called for peace, stressing the need for all relevant stakeholders to continually engage in peace talks.
Read Also: Ghana To Review $1m Capital Base For Nigerian Traders
She said it was indeed sad that the traders’ shops have not been reopened for almost a year, citing Ghana’s draconian regulations which breached ECOWAS Protocols on Free Trade and the Movement of Goods and Services.
The NiDCOM boss pleaded with the traders not to allow tempers to rise as she would convey their message to the appropriate Nigerian authorities.
She however expressed that the Federal Government would gladly welcome the traders back home.
