The Government of Ghana has rejected accusations by Nigeria that its citizens are being maltreated in Ghana.
In a six-page response to an earlier statement by the Nigerian Minister of Information and culture on some recent troubles between the two countries, Ghana’s Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, denied all the accusations by his Nigerian counterpart and provided detailed explanations showing it was incorrect for the Nigerian government to suggest its citizens are being targeted for maltreatment in Ghana.
The 6-page response by the Ghana government in a statement signed by Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah provided detailed explanations to what the Nigerian government described as maltreatment of its citizens in Ghana, among other allegations.
The statement said the accusations by the Nigerian government are incorrect, saying all foreign shops, and not only Nigerian shops are supposed to strictly abide and operate under Ghanaian laws. The GIPC law, according to the statement, does not single out Nigerians.
Foreign shop owners have consequently been offered a moratorium to get their businesses registered with the GIPC to ensure sanity in retail trading in the country.
On accusations that the Ghanaian government demolished a property being constructed by the Nigerian Mission to House staff, to which the Nigerian government said it’s a breach of the Vienna convention, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah stated that the accusation lacks fact.
He said a search at the Lands Commission indicated that the Nigerian High Commission failed to complete the documentation process after paying for the land in the year 2000.
The High Commission also failed to acquire the Lease and LandTitle Certificate, which constitute documentation for the said property, as well as a building permit for construction. The statement said the government has nothing to do with any demolition since the said land belongs to the Osu stool.
Again, on the accusation that about one thousand shops belonging to Nigerians were closed down from 2018, 2019 and 2020, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah responded that upon evidence that some individuals, including Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians, had been involved in various forms of trade, without complying with the laws and regulations of Ghana, several engagements and prior advice had been given to encourage compliance.
He added that Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry intervened to ensure the reopening of closed shops, pending compliance with Ghana’s laws by their operators.
Mr.Oppong Nkrumah said Ghana remains committed to the maintenance of warm relations with Nigeria, particularly, for well-known historical reasons, and proceed to engage Nigeria with a view to resolve comprehensively and exhaustively, any matters that have the potential to sour relations between the two countries.
The statement said President Akufo-Addo, will engage President Buhari with a view to immediately develop a framework for validating claims of ill-treatment of citizens of either country and ensure citizens enjoy the full exercise of their rights while respecting the sovereignty and laws of both countries.
