The reasons for the closures are two: Nigerians’ alleged non-compliance with the Ghana Investment Promotion Council regulations, which impose taxes and other fees on these foreign businesses. A Nigerian, whose shop was closed, claimed the Ghana authorities asked him to pay a US$ 1 million registration fee, even after showing them his business registration certificate and other relevant documents. As proof, he presented a video recording of that encounter.
But even with Nigerians’ outrage, Boakye Boateng, the Ghana Ministry of Trade head of communication, speaking on a local radio, defended the Ghana action. He claimed the latest crackdown was sequel to the suspended move of December 2019, which was stopped following the intervention of Ghana President, Nana Akufo-Ado. He alleged that the affected Nigerians had failed to fulfil their part by the law, despite the moratorium.
He said Ghanaians were alleging the regulators were not on the Ghana traders’ side –should they? Shouldn’t they just fairly — and blindly — enforce the law? Doesn’t that native lobby suggest illicit native pressure, to skew the enforcement against alien Nigerians? If that were the case, can Ghana beat its chest it has fairly and scrupulously implemented its own laws? We greatly doubt that — and so would any right-thinking person.
Their angst was that the closed border didn’t allow the cross-border export of Ghana-made bitters products — Adonko, Alomo Bitters, etc — which have found a huge home in Nigeria’s huge market. There were even fears that Kasapreko, a major bitters manufacturer in Ghana, could take a major hit, should the border closure constrain its Nigerian export.But in Kasapreko’s fears is a clear folly of business xenophobia.