FG reacts to video of forceful closure of shops owned by Nigerians in Ghana

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has reacted to the viral video showing shops of Nigerian traders in Ghana being locked up by Ghanaian authorities.

A Nigerian trader in a video making the rounds on social media was seen complaining bitterly as Ghanaian authorities locked up his shop and those of other Nigerians for failing to pay the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, GIPC, fee which is $1million minimum foreign equity while the registration fee is 31,500 cedis.

The video prompted diverse reactions from Nigerians who took to social media to condemn the actions of the Ghanaian authorities, accusing them of making life unbearable for Nigerians residing in their country.

However, in a tweet posted via his Twitter account on Monday morning, Onyeama said the government will take urgent steps to tackle the situation.

”Nigerian Government has watched with dismay the painful videos of the forceful closure of the shops of Nigerian traders in Ghana.

“Urgent steps will be taken,” he said.

Recall that the Ghanaian authorities had said that Nigerian shop owners in the country must pay tax and other fees imposed on them.

The country’s Ministry of Trades, while insisting on the payment, said that claims of unfair treatment on Nigerian traders in the enforcement of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council regulations were not true.