We’ll work with Nigeria to end border closure – Gov’t to Ghanaian traders

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Ghanaian traders to exercise restraint as government authorities tackle issues regarding the closure of Nigeria’s border.

Nigeria closed its frontiers in what it says is to stop the smuggling of products from its neighboring West African states into the country.

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement, however, indicated that it intends to engage the Nigerian authorities in order to bring the issue of border closures and trade barriers to an end.

“Given the longstanding cordial relations and cooperation between Ghana and Nigeria and our common commitment to deepen and widen regional and continental integration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional integration deems it a matter of high priority to engage the Nigerian authorities in order to bring an amicable end to the issue of border closure and trade barriers.”

The closure of the borders will be in force for twenty-eight (28) days, however, if the issues remain unresolved, there is no guarantee that the borders will be reopened after that.

The Minister had earlier said stakeholders within the trade chain are being brought up to task to tackle the illegal trading activities within the sub-region.

“Institutions responsible for trading activities i.e., Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) will have to continue to play their role to ward off illegal trading activities in our market places.”

It also entreated the representatives of Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to use established channels to address grievances involving citizens of ECOWAS Member States and not do anything to derail the peace of the country and the ECOWAS region, whilst a lasting solution is found to their problems.

The smuggling of goods and sale of substandard products through the eastern corridor is a phenomenon Ghana is battling with, resulting in struggles with revenue mobilization.

As a result of this development, GUTA has constantly asked authorities to strictly enforce the country’s laws on foreign trade.

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