The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned the renewed attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana, describing it as unnecessary.
This was contained in a statement issued by NIDCOM’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
The Chairman/CEO of the commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said in the statement that the reported cases of attacks on Nigerian shops and traders by Ghanaians were quite unfortunate.
According to her, the attacks are happening at a time xenophobic attacks are becoming unpopular.
She said that such attacks should be a thing of the past following interventions of Nigerian and Ghanaian leaders after September’s xenophobic attacks on foreigners and their businesses in South Africa.
NIDCOM boss, however, appealed to Nigerians in Ghana, especially shop owners, not to take laws into their hands by retaliating, but to remain calm and allow law enforcement agents to deal with the situation.
“I hereby appeal for calm from both sides and implore the law enforcement agencies to protect the lives and properties, especially those of Nigerians, from being attacked pending the resolution of the matter,” she pleaded.
On December 2, there were reported clashes between Ghanaian and Nigerian traders, a development that left some people injured.
Reports say that the clashes followed the closure of shops belonging to some Nigerian traders at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Ghana.
At least nine persons were arrested in the process. Police have since been deployed to the area to avert any reprisals.
Don’t make Ghana ungovernable — Akufo-Addo to GUTA
Ghanaian leader Akufo-Addo has also urged the leadership and membership of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) not to take the law into their own hands in dealing with traders from Nigeria and other nationalities engaged in retail trade.
In a meeting with the leadership of GUTA on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2019, i.e. the 2nd day of his 3-day tour of the Greater Accra Region, the President stated that “undoubtedly, the law favours GUTA’s position. But, I will appeal that we live in a country where the rule of law works.”
He continued, “It is the State that interprets how the laws should be applied. People cannot take the law into their own hands, and purportedly seek to enforce it. If we tread on that line, Ghana will become ungovernable.”
Reminding the leadership of GUTA about the high numbers of Ghanaians also trading in Nigeria, the President stated that “let us not do things that may result in reprisal attacks on Ghanaians elsewhere. Not long ago, we saw and heard what happened in South Africa. It has dented their image and has caused them to lose respect in the comity of nations.”
Dailymailgh.com has also gathered that the leadership of GUTA will meet on December 5, to determine the reopening of the locked up shops owned by the foreigners.
Source: J. Ofori, Daily Mail GH
