Four-times Nigeria and Ghana have engaged in socio-economic wars

Nigeria and Ghana are known to be allies in every sense of the word. The countries, described by many as “brother and sister” share history, culture and tradition.

The relationship between both countries stretch back to the pre-colonial era when Nigerians trooped into Ghana to carry out their trading activities.

As the two biggest economies in the West African region, the sustained relationship between these countries have become increasingly critical to the success of the region.

Trade ties have become a mainstay as Nigeria’s high levels of liquidity has serve as an important source of capital to Ghana.

This trade ties, however, could soon be fractured. Recent happening in Ghana’s two biggest cities Accra and Kumasi has smeared the relationship both countries share.

The harassment and closure of shops owned by Nigerian traders might take us to the dark days of 1969 under the regime of Kofi Abrefa Busia.

While we hope it will not get to that, we expect that the two countries are able to scale this hurdle that has the prospects of damaging bilateral relationship.

Below, we take a look at the four instances Nigerian and Ghana have logged heads.

1969 - Deportation of illegal immigrants in Ghana (mostly Nigerians)

This period cast a dark cloud over Ghana. It all began in 1969 under the regime of Kofi Abrefa Busia, where there was expulsion of foreigners who were mainly Nigerians estimated to be two and a half million from Ghana.

According to the government at the time, the foreigners, mostly Nigerians were engaged in criminal activities including: prostitution, armed robbery and smuggling.

1983 - Deportation of illegal immigrants in Nigeria (mostly Ghanaians)

In a retaliatory action, on January 17, 1983, the first democratically elected President of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari declared the expulsion of an estimated two million undocumented migrants living in the country. Half of them were Ghanaian.

“If they don’t leave, they should be arrested and tried and sent back to their homes. Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever,” President Shagari said at the time.

2019 - Ghanaian Authorities shut down shops belonging to Nigerian retail traders

This impasse began in 2019 after the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) shut down 70 Nigerian-owned businesses. This follows the implementation of a new set of rules by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), which stipulates that “the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place,” must be reserved only for Ghanaian citizens.

Since the harassment of Nigerian traders in Ghana began, more than 600 shops have been forced to close down in Accra, Kumasi and Koforidua.

2019 - Nigeria closes its land borders to West African neighbors

Many believe that the closure of the Nigerian borders to its West Africa neighbors could be reason Ghana enforced the laws on Nigerian traders in the country.

Recall that in November 2019, Nigeria’s West African neighbors held a meeting in Abuja to discuss the issues arising on the closure of land boarders. Nigeria, however, insisted on levying duties on goods transiting to its country through neighboring nations to curb smuggling.

A move was condemned by President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng, who urged the ECOWAS check Nigeria.

Obeng believes that all treaties and protocols under ECOWAS are ineffective, pointing to Nigeria’s actions as evidence., Trt World said.

“Nigeria has blatantly flouted ECOWAS protocol if there is even something like that. Surprisingly, the foreign affairs ministry has failed to deal with this issue, nobody is talking to this issue and for two months Ghanaian goods have been locked up in Nigeria.

This act by the Nigerian government nullifies the entire ECOWAS Treaty on the free movement of people and goods,” he said.