753 Nigerian traders in Ghana request evacuation over $1m capital imposition

THE Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana has disclosed that about 753 of its members are requesting evacuation from the former Gold Coast.

Their request was contained in a letter sent to the Federal Government on Wednesday.

The Save-Our-Soul letter was presented to the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja by the union President, Dr Ken Ukoaha, and some members.

This is happening despite the message from Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday advising the traders not to leave Ghana as the government was still engaging with the Ghanaian authorities over the matter.

Aregbesola assured the traders that the government of Nigeria would not abandon them.

The traders are making this move in reaction to the  imposition of $1m business equity, among other harsh conditions, on non-Ghanaians by the Akufo-Addo administration.

But a statement from Gabriel Odu, of the NIDCOM Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit on Wednesday disclosed that the 753 signatories expressed their willingness to return home.

They alleged that  their shops had been locked for almost one year by the Ghanaian authorities, “more so, since all diplomatic niceties at the highest level between Nigeria and Ghana have not yielded positive results, they are left with no choice than to ask for evacuation.”

“Now, landlords are coming to ask us for rent. How do we pay with our shops locked up for so long; were are dying here,” the statement quoted them as saying.

However, Dabiri-Erewa again called for peace, stressing that all relevant stakeholders would continually be engaged.

She also said Nigeria would not hesitate to gladly and safely welcome her citizens back to the country.