Ghana replies FG over harassment of Nigerians

Ghanaian authorities have replied the federal government following allegations of maltreating Nigerian citizens.

The country's response was issued in a detailed letter by Kojo Nkrumah, the Ghanaian information minister.

Recall that the minister of information and culture warned Ghanaian authorities that Nigeria would no longer tolerate harassment of its citizens.

Following several allegations made by the federal government over the treatment of Nigerian citizens living in Ghana, the country's authorities have responded to set the records straight.

According to Premium Times, Ghanaian authorities in a detailed letter insisted that it remains committed to the maintenance of warm relations with Nigeria.

Kojo Nkrumah, the Ghanaian information minister who disclosed this went on to explain that the issues raised by Nigeria are not reflective of the situation in Ghana.

Nkrumah spoke on some of the documented acts of hostilities against Nigerians including the alleged seizure of the Nigerian Mission’s property and the demolition of the building located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street.

He explained that the terms of the commercial lease expired 46 years ago, without any evidence of renewal by the High Commission of Nigeria.

The Ghanaian information minister addressing the issue of incessant deportation said seven hundred Nigerians were deported because of their involvement in criminal activities.

The minister in reaction to the exorbitant fee for the residency permit pointed out that all foreigners, who apply for the permit in Ghana, pay the same fees and they are not specific to Nigerians.

He added that no Nigerian trader has been arrested, adding that the closure of shops was because of infractions on Ghanaian laws.

This is coming a few days after the federal government warned Ghanaian authorities that it would no longer tolerate the harassment of Nigerians residing in that country.

The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed in a statement on Friday, August 28, said the federal government has been documenting the hostilities of Ghanaian authorities towards Nigerians.

Mohammed said Nigeria frowns at its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule, noting that it will no longer tolerate the harassment of Nigerians under any guise.

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took a very drastic measure as a way of ensuring lasting solutions following the treatment of Nigerian traders in Ghana.

On his Twitter page on Wednesday, August 19, the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, announced that the federal government has recalled the nation's envoy to the West African country and that of the gold coast to Nigeria for consultations.

For reasons yet to be clarified, shops owned by Nigerians in Ghana were forcefully closed by government officials.

In other news, Nigerian traders in Ghana have been mandated by the Ministry of Trades to pay $1m (N385,110,000) fee before they continue with their businesses.

A video had emerged in which a Nigerian trader lamented as his shop was being locked by Ghanaian security officials. The man said he showed the security officials his business registration certificate and other documents but they still locked his shop.

He said Nigerians in Ghana are suffering, adding that he would not hesitate to sell his goods and return to his country if that is what the Ghanaian authorities want.