Ghana Closes Over 400 Nigerian Businesses – Trade Association

Over 400 businesses owned by Nigerians have been closed down by Ghanaian authorities, triggering a protest by owners who have issued a week ultimatum within which to resolve the surrounding the maltreatment of Nigerian business community in Ghana.
The National Association of Nigerian Traders, NANTS, has written a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, concerning this situation.
A one-week ultimatum was given by the association to ECOWAS to intervene, warning that the association will occupy the regional body’s premises if the issue in Ghana was not addressed.
Ken Ukaoha, President of NANT, stated that the development has reached a point where the Ghanaian Parliament has passed a legislation to make the business environment hostile to foreign investors.
He said that the ECOWAS President, Jean-Claude Brou, had been petitioned over the development.
“This is a save our soul call and the urgency of this protest is to inform you of the state of fear, uncertainty and insecurity that Nigerian traders are currently subjected to in the hands of the government and people of Ghana in different cities under the coordination of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and Ministry of Trade and Industry,” Ukaoha said.
He further revealed that the members of the association have been shut out of their business premises because of the eviction order which was issued on  July 27, 2018, demanding that “we must have $1m as minimum foreign investment capital to do business in Ghana”.