Nigerian traders to Buhari: We’re dying in Ghana, evacuate us
Over 700 Nigerian traders living in Ghana have petitioned the Muhammadu Buhari government to evacuate them over alleged intimidation
At least 753 Nigerian traders living in Ghana are calling on their government to help evacuate them over what they termed “unfair treatment” in their host country.
They claim they are being harassed, intimidated, tortured by Ghanaians, putting their lives in danger. Their shops, they said, have been locked for almost a year by the Ghanaian authorities.
The Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) said the diplomatic channels being used by Nigeria and Ghana have failed, hence the latest request to get some of their members out of the country.
The traders said their landlords were asking for rent, despite the shops remaining locked for over a year now.
SOS message
In an SOS message to the Chief Executive of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, they claimed they are dying from hardship. The letter was presented by a delegation led by the president of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Dr Ken Ukoaha, in the company of NUTAG president, Chukwuemeka Nnaji.
They also expressed their grievances with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adebayo, in Abuja. They told the media after the meeting that their request for evacuation was due to the fact that their members are struggling to survive.
“As traders, this is our mother ministry, and that is why we have come to meet with the minister and convey our final decision to be safely evacuated from Ghana,” Ukoaha said.
He added: “Nigerian traders in Ghana are being tortured, intimidated, harassed, apart from being subjected to all manners of frustrations by the government and people of Ghana since 2007. Imagine our businesses being under lock and key for several months by Ghanaian authorities. Some traders who borrowed money from banks to transact businesses cannot pay back and some goods are getting expired.
“Having consciously reviewed our situation and counted the costs, we have solemnly resolved to leave Ghana in peace before it is too late.”
Nana Oye Ankrah
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