Nigerian Traders Wants Review Of Trade Prohibition Law

Nigerian Traders in Ghana on Wednesday said the implementation of the country�s trade law which prohibits foreigners from engaging in retail business would bring about serious consequence to them. They have therefore appealed to the government to relax the trade laws to promote fair competition among them and traders in Ghana. Addressing a news conference in Accra, Mr Moses O.T. Owharo, Executive President of All Nigerian Community (ANC) in Ghana said Nigerian Traders are ready to dialogue with government to solve trade issues in the country. �We plea for a dialogue that will be of mutual benefit to us and to our indigenous Ghanaian Traders to ensure mutually healthy competition that encourages reduction in the prices of commodities in the open markets.� Mr Owharo said Nigerian traders at Kaneshie Agbogboloshie, Okaishie, Tudu and Kantamanto among others had closed their shops to express concerns about consequence of Ghana�s Trade Laws. According to him as law abiding citizens they are not questioning the rationale of trade prohibition or challenging government but are pleading for �leniency� and the need to reconsider government's resolve towards the implementation of the current trade laws. Mr Owharo said the Nigerian community with the population of more than 4,000 is contributing to the country�s economy in terms of trade, revenue, infrastructure and manpower development and with the implementation of the trade laws their families and businesses are to suffer. He contended Ghana and Nigeria have benefited from trade collaboration and sharpening of business skills with international engagement within the trade industry. �We therefore appeal for this cooperation to continue in the spirit of ECOWAS,� he added. The President of ANC urged Ghanaian traders to stand shoulder to shoulder with their Nigerian brothers and feel intimidated in any competitive business environment since the world has become a global village. According to him, China was able to surpass the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Countries like Japan and other Western Nations because they took a positive spirit of standing firm in the wake of competition and today China is being described as a superpower. He contended that Ghanaians residents in Nigeria are doing well in their businesses and call for the building of trust to achieve more in terms of trade. Mr Owharo warned the ANC would not shield any Nigerian involved any dubious activities adding �we ready to collaborate with stakeholders in the trade business�. Hundreds of the Nigerian Traders later presented copies of their news conference statements to the Nigerian High Commissioner, Ademola Louseyi Onafowokan at the Nigerian High Commission at Roman Ridge.