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Ghanaian traders threaten Nigerians, seek to close their shops

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Ghanaian traders have threatened to attack their Nigerians counterparts, and sought to close their shops in renewed confrontations.

Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), thus, appealed to the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade, to resume operations to close down shops of undocumented foreign retailers.

The development comes amid purported plans by the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) to reject the special dispensation granted them by the Government of Ghana despite a series of diplomatic efforts by both Ghana and Nigeria governments, Ghanaian Times reports.

A statement from Ghanaian Times reads:

“This inappropriate attitude of the Nigerian traders in Ghana is not only an insult but also a well-orchestrated ploy to frustrate the committee, state, and people of Ghana.

“Therefore, we of the Ghana Union of the Traders’ Associations wish to appeal to the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade to, as a matter of urgency resume its operations without any delays as the behaviour of the Nigerian traders has seriously provoked Ghanaian traders and reigniting agitations in the markets.”

Meanwhile, Nkem Tony Onyeagolu, former President for All Nigerians Community- Ashanti Region, has appealed to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Akufo-Addo to issue a directive for the re-opening of shops owned by Nigerian traders.

Onyeagolu said since the closure of their retail shops by local authorities, things have got worse for some of the Igbo traders in the country.

He explained that the majority of Igbo traders have been victimised by the move and are hard-pressed financially, highly indebted and have not been able to pay off loans they took from financial institutions to run their businesses.

In reaction, NUTAG President, Chukwuemeka Nnaji urged President Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, ECOWAS Commission and the international community to “urgently intervene and prevent GUTA from attacking our members as they have promised in their last press release.”

He said the current decision by GUTA comes as a surprise since it had been able to appeal to the Inter-Ministerial Committee of both countries to review the issue.

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