The Chairman, Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike
Dabiri-Erewa, says it is painful that engagements with the Ghanaian authorities
on the plight of Nigerian traders in the country haven’t achieved the desired
results.
She revealed that two affected Nigerian traders attempted
suicide recently but they are currently undergoing therapy.
This is happening against the backdrop of the imposition of
$1m business equity on non-Ghanaians as well as other conditions.
Recall that about 753 members of the
Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana presented a letter to the
Federal Government requesting for evacuation from the former Gold Coast.
The NIDCOM boss said the Speaker of House of
Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola;
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Industry, Trade and
Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; amongst others, were looking at the request of the
Nigerian traders.
Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke on Monday while featuring on
Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, however,
said the Ghanaian presidential election of December 7, 2020, must come and go
before tangible agreements were reached.
“Elections are coming. You know there is something political
about this. Let’s face it. The President of Ghana will not want to go against
his own citizens and majority of the Ghanaian traders have said we don’t want
them (Nigerian traders).
“Don’t let us deceive ourselves, nothing will happen before
December 7,” she said, adding, “There is nothing ECOWAS can achieve before the
election. Election must be won or lost.”
Dabiri-Erewa said the evacuation of the traders would come
at psychological, economic and social cost while expressing optimism that the
bilateral dispute would be resolved.
“We don’t have a problem at the government level; we have a
problem at the people level. The government of Ghana has willingly said, ‘Open
these shops’ but the people are complying.
“I hope you know that three years ago, a Nigerian lady
committed suicide. And as I speak with you, another two are on the verge of
suicide but they are going through some kind of counselling with the message of
hope that things will be better.
“As at today, it’s been over one year. Now, they have to pay
rent for their shops, they don’t have money for rent. How can you pay rent when
your shop has been closed forever?”
On his part, General Secretary, All Nigerian Community,
Ghana, Isaac Ekhator, said some of the Nigerian traders were married to
Ghanaians and would not want to abandon their families to come back to Nigeria.
He noted that the evacuation request was a way of
pressurising the two governments to reach a consensus and end the trade crisis.
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Alhaja Abike have actually achieved any positive outcome for any Nigerian in the diaspora or is it a case of yet another excuses? Why the office? Such office wasting public funds. If you find out that you have failed and cannot perform why not resign and stop making excuses further?
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