Nigerian businessmen in Ghana allege sabotage

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

Nigerians doing business in Ghana have called on the Federal Government to intervene in the attempt by Ghanaian authorities to expel them from the country.

More than 200 businesses operated by Nigerians in the Kumasi area of Ghana were, Monday,

reportedly shut down by the Ghanaian authorities. All of the businesses deal in auto parts.

The owners of the businesses, who spoke to Vanguard, said the Ghanaian police descended on them in the early hours of Monday and locked up their shops.

They attributed the clamp down to their inability to meet the regulatory requirement for operating a business in the country as foreigners.

According to them, the Ghanaian authorities require that foreigners have at least $300,000 (N48m) as capital and employment of Ghanaians as a precondition for operating a business in the country.

Mohammed Nasir from Kwara State, said their business was just a small enterprise that cannot meet such conditions.

He said the directive and subsequent closure of their businesses is tantamount to expulsion from Ghana.

Another businessman, Ikechukwu Umeh, who was also affected by the clamp down, said the incident was also in connection with a condition which requires Nigerian businessmen to supply goods to Ghanaian and allow them a period of three months to pay up.

He said it was difficult because Ghanaians always failed to pay up when due, sometimes owing for up to three years.