Country Director of Consumer Unity and Trust Society, Appiah Kusi Adomako, is calling on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament to call for an emergency meeting to bring finality to the boarder closure brouhaha.
His comment comes on the back of calls by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to retaliate.
Mr Adomako said Nigeria must be made to make a pledge not to repeat such an action. “Parliament must pass a resolution for an emergency meeting for Nigeria to assure us not to do so again and that will be better than those who are calling for retaliation,” he said on Adom FM’s Burning Issues on Monday, November 4, 2019.
The Consumer expert expressed disappointment in Nigeria for exhibiting such act as a State with the sub-region’s administrative bureau.
“Nigerians didn’t force and as the headquarters of ECOWAS, they should have showed leadership”, he indicated.
Mr Adomako said the action taken by the African giants could be a recipe for disaster if other countries tend to retaliate.
“They have betrayed ECOWAS because other countries may want to strike back and that will not be good for us all”, he cautioned.
Meanwhile, David Kwadwo Amoateng, Greater Accra GUTA Chairman said on the same show the Association has taken upon itself to educate all foreigners who are doing retail business to stop.
“We have been going to their shops, we open the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) law to them and read for those who can’t. After understanding the content, they peacefully close their shops and thank us for not treating them like how other African nationals were treated in South Africa,” he explained to host, Akua Boakyewaa Yiadom.
He said if the government does not take action to stop retail trading by foreigners, they will close all shops and organise a massive demonstration against the development.
Nigeria closed its frontiers in what it says is to stop the smuggling of products from its neighboring West African countries into Nigeria.
The action taken by Nigeria was to express its displeasure at the attitude of the Benin authorities to elicit their cooperation.
The closure of the borders which started in August 2019 was expected to be in force for 28 days, however, it looks like the issues remain unresolved, thus, the continuous closure which has been extended till ending of January 2020.
Meanwhile, Adom News’ sources indicate government has presented a list of all Ghanaian importers plying the route, upon a request from Nigeria which has promised to create a safe passage for Ghanaian businesses only.
The list was presented on Thursday October 31, 2019, according to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the perusal of the West African neighbours.
Source: Ghana| Adom FM| Felix Anim-Appau|kwadwoasiedu2012@gmail.com