THE Honourable Minister for Industry Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, yesterday led the Nigerian delegation on a bilateral conversation with the Ghanaian Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, and other representatives.
During the conversation, the Honourable Minister emphasized the subsisting excellent relationship between both countries and the need to resolve the issues, that has led to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of Nigerian traders/citizens in Ghana.
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Among the Nigerian delegates was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who said: "if they (Nigerians) are doing legitimate business, please allow them as brothers and sisters to continue to do so. I want to give you that assurance that that will be the case."
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila urged Ghanaian authorities to revisit the component of the law that requires a capital base of $1 million for businesses to start, saying as Africans, Ghana should encourage brotherliness.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives made some far-reaching proposals that would bring an end to the attacks on Nigerian traders doing business in Ghana.
The Speaker also said he would be glad to champion a law to improve the bilateral trade relations between Nigeria and Ghana, noting that citizens of the two countries remain brothers and sisters.
Gbajabiamila said: "First, the amicable settlement of trade disputes through arbitration and fair judicial processes. In this context, we do believe that while it is the sovereign right of the government of Ghana to pass and implement the GIPC Act, we would implore you to explore alternative and less aggressive options of engaging, sanctioning and relating with our traders and business people who operate in your country, pay taxes and contribute to the development of both our nations"
"Secondly," Gbajbiamila said "we would encourage you to revisit the component of the law that requires a capital base of $1,000,000. We are all Africans, we all have towns and villages, and we know only too well that majority of our traders across the continent are petty traders."
He further stated: "The prospect of them being able to raise a capital base of $1,000,000 before they can trade in goods that may be worth less than $1,000, clearly is a major challenge. One of the things we are all proud about and the common surname that we all bear is ‘ECOWAS’ and as you know, by virtue of being ECOWAS countries, our nations and our citizens should be able to live, work and thrive in any of our nations without any form of hindrance or discrimination."
Speaking in response, the Ghanaian Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Kyerematen, said there are many Ghanaians and Nigerians who are going about their lawful duties without difficulties.
