The recent update on the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) Act which resulted in the barring of Nigerian traders from retailing goods has led to the Nigerian Traders Association taking the government to court saying it is a contravention of the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of goods and people.
This decision was recently rescinded leading to the re-opening of all Nigerian shops.
The re-opening of all Nigerian shops has come with some back clash with some questioning whether it was even necessary in the first place for the shops to have been closed.
The ECOWAS protocol on Free Movement of goods and people gives backing to the Nigerians to trade in Ghana, but not in retail. This has however been a challenge and some Ghanaians also say the Nigerians bring in cheap goods, for which reason they receive huge patronage.
A male trader who spoke in twi explained that it is important for all to abide by the laws in each person’s country, be it Ghana or Nigeria.
Another trader was also of the view that Ghanaians are too greedy and their insatiable desire for huge profits is the main cause of the Ghana-Nigeria retail brouhaha.
It does not seem like the concerns emanating from retail trading among some of the West African nations will end rather soon, but one thing is clear, that is Ghana and Nigeria have no choice but to learn to live as good neighbours.
