For some years now, the situation of Nigerian traders living in
Ghana could be likened to a mnemonic for the title of one of the late Chinua
Achebe’s novels; No
longer at ease. On Monday, October 28, 2013; many Nigerian traders
were summond to an emergency meeting in the ancient Ghanaian city of Kumasi.
In the same vein, dozens of Nigerian traders, who are members of
the Nigerian Union of Traders in Ghana (NUTAG), the umbrella body for Nigerian
traders in the former Gold Coast; also had cause to gather at a hotel in the
Dansoman neighbourhood of the Ghanaian capital, Accra on Thursday, October 24,
2013.
At either conference, their meeting dragged for about three
hours as NUTAG members pondered their situation. Apart from NUTAG National
President, Deacon John Igwe Ukala; and, National Vice President, Hon. Joseph
Obi; others at the October 24 summit; included Tamale Chapter Chairman, Sir
Hycinth Nwoko; Eastern Region Chairman, Sir Linus Okoroigwe; NUTAG PRO, Chief
Ikechukwu Obiora; and, Tema Chapter Chairman, Sir Kingsley Eboh.
The importance of their sitting could be gleaned from the fact
that, apart from those who happened to be out of town on that day, every other
NUTAG executive member was in attendance. Furthermore, many of these merchants
were sighted at Nigerian High Commission Accra on Wednesday, October 23.
Reliable sources revealed these Nigerians came to brief their
country’s diplomatic mission of their predicament as well as to find out what
what being done at the governments’ level to resolve an issue that has lingered
for some six years. In many instances, Nigerian traders did not just have to be
absent at their malls, some had to travel over hundreds of kilometres from
regional capitals to venues, where meeting had been called.
In other words, aside from losing money from not opening their
shops for business, money was also lost to commuting, not to talk of stress
from long distance shuttles. No pun intended, but it has come to the point,
where some of these merchants seem more preoccupied with holding meetings than
attending to customers.
“My brother, life has not been easy here for some years. We have
become victims of serial harassment and with this matter dragging for about six
years, some of us are beginning to wonder, if ECOWAS (Economic Community of
West African States) has any meaning. But, we have to keep trying”, was the
lament of a Nigerian merchant resident in Ghana.
But, the man was not through.
Hear his cynical rue: “Interestingly, this latest attempt to intimidate us is
coming a few days to the opening of ECOWAS 7th Trade
Fair. Some people say we should not trade, but do you know the theme of this
year’s ECOWAS expo in Ghana? It is “Regional integration through trade”… My brother, I no fit laugh;
he concluded in pidgin English.
According to the NUTAG National VP, a section of indigenous
retailers had earlier concluded plans for a demonstration against Nigerian
traders in Kumasi on Friday, October 25. Although the rally was called off,
possibly due to bureaucratic intervention; the anti-Nigerian traders’ issue
again surged to the fore, barely 48 hours later, when; during a television
presentation, spokeswoman of a section of the indigenous traders’ body declared
that Nigerian traders in Kumasi should close shop by November 15.
By some coincidence, Travels was in Kumasi for a tour of select
tourist sites, and chose to seize the opportunity to engage some affected
Nigerians. Chief Elieza Obodoekwe, Vice President of NUTAG in Asante Region, is
one of the three NUTAG executives Travels spoke with in Ghana. Igbo Ukwu,
Anambra State-born Chief Obodoekwe is fondly addressed by his traditional
title, Onwa.
Although Onwa admitted he missed the television
presentation, he said the threat must have been aired because countless members
called him to ask what NUTAG leadership planned to do. Hear him: “According to
a TV3 presentation about 9pm on Sunday,
October 26, 2013; Madam Joanah of Joanah Motors demanded that Nigerians should
close shop. She even issued a November 15 ultimatum”.
But, what could the woman’s
reason be? “Her argument is that Nigerians are making profit that should
ordinarily go to indigenes. According to her, foreigners are barred from
engaging in retail trade. However, whereas foreigners are not allowed to do
retail-trading inside a market, the law permits us to operate from our shops in
other areas of town”, Onwaexplained.
Onwa went on to recall: “Early this year,
around January, many Nigerian-owned shops across Accra were locked up. The
Ghanaian Government subsequently gave certain conditions before traders could
have their shops reopened. These conditions included compulsory registration of
each company and that the company should also have a certificate to commence
business.
“Also, each company must be registered with the office in charge
of VAT; register with IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and have TIN (Tax
Identification Number); apart from registration with SSNIT. Additionally,
certain conpanies are also required to register with Ghana Investment and
Promotions Council (GIPC).
“In my own case, my company, Best Quality Parts Ltd; has
fulfilled every requirement. Then, there is the issue of every foreigner living
in Ghana now required to have a Residency Permit, and Non-Citizen ID. I have
all of these and my business is legitimate. So, it is therefore surprising that
non-government officials could be harassing us.
“I don’t think these antagonists have taken the trouble to go to
relevant authorities to find out, if our operations are legitimate or not. But,
I’m very sad because of the anxiety these anti-Nigerian elements generate
through their frequent agitations”.
In this Nigerian’s thinking,
head or tail, Ghanaians also stand to lose: “There are well over 40
Nigerian-owned shops in Asante Region. If only three Ghanaians are employed at
each shop, we are talking of about 120 Ghanaians that would be out of business,
should we leave town. Yes, if we have to shut down our business, that means we
have no business being here. In other words, our antagonists want us to leave
town”, Onwa reckoned.
The major grouse is that some
Nigerians are involved in retail trade, however there are many other Nigerians
that are not into retailing business but are similarly affected by the
perceived hostile disposition of these rival traders, we gathered. Travels was told that dealers in Toyota and
Datsun spare-parts are the arrowheads of the rally against Nigerians.
Truck/Trailer dealers around
Kumasi’s New Road Junction appear not to have any problem with Nigerians, we
further learnt. Some Nigerians resident in Ghana remided that countless
Ghanaians were living in Nigeria unharassed. “One of the biggest restaurants in
Warri, Delta State is owned by a Ghanaian. Also, a major haulage business
merchant based in Nnewi, Anambra State; is of Ghanaian origin”, Onwa cited.
Concluding, Onwa, who was
President of Nigerian Youth Association (NYA) in Ghana from 2004 to 2007; rued:
“The sad reality is that the people now up in arms against us were once our
store-boys. I’ve been here (Suame Magazine, Kumasi) for almost 24 years. We
helped them to get to where they are today by introducing them to this
business. Ironically, the same people we supported in the past have now turned
against us”.
Chief Joseph Okpala, who is Treasurer, Asante Region Chapter of
NUTAG; said Nigerian traders were disturbed that their country’s authority and
the Ghanaian government were still unable to resolve the matter. “We are really
worried”, the man remarked.
During a chat with Travels in Accra, Hon. Obi; confirmed that the
recent flurry of meetings was prompted by the predicament of Nigerian
entrepreneurs in Ghana, especially those in Ashanti Region. “Ghanaian
spare-parts dealers around an area called Magazine in Suame, Kumasi; say they
want every shop owned by a Nigerian shut because foreigners are not eligible to
engage in retail trade. That is the main issue”.
As to what NUTAG had been doing to resolve the issue, Obi
recalled; “Some of us (NUTAG national executives) travelled from Ghana to Abuja
about two months ago. We spent four days (August 21 to 24) in Abuja because of
this matter. Among the things we did, while in Abuja, was a visit to the office
of the minister of trade.
“We also expressed, to various relevant authorities, our
gratitude to the Nigerian Government for sending powerful delegations to Ghana
for talks with their Ghanaian counterparts regarding our plight. During our
stay in Abuja, we were assured that the matter was being handled by ECOWAS. So,
we had returned to Ghana believing the matter was being treated by constituted
authorities”.
In the face of assurances they got barely two months ago, Obi
and others are expectedly shocked that their alleged harassment at the hands of
rival traders could surge forth again, so soon. He said NUTAG executives, after
a brainstorm that lasted some three hours resolved to carry on with their
businesses, even as efforts would be made to brief relevant authorities on both
Ghanaian and Nigerian sides of developments as they unfolded.
As to their position after series of deliberations, the NUTAG
executives almost in a chorus; declared: “Nigerians will not close shop because
we are here officially. Our companies are registered corporate bodies, and we
pay our taxes and dues to the government as at when due”.
But, if they are not welcome by the host community, must they
remain in Kumasi at all cost? “O, don’t get us wrong. It is not the host
community that have asked us to stop doing business here. Our antagonists
constitute a negligible fraction of the host community. We understand their
problem: it is fear of fair competition. But, not every member of the
indigenous spare-parts dealers’ association are against Nigerian traders. Those
that want us out of business are rival local dealers in Japanese automobile
spare-parts”, Hon. Obi offered.
The influx of Nigerian entrepreneurs into Ghana is generating
mixed reactions among members of the host nation. On one hand are Ghanaian
traders, who see the involvement of some Nigerians doing business in their
country as a threat: such Ghanaians feel that Nigerians are robbing locals of means
of livelihood by playing importer, distributor and retailer all rolled into
one.
On the other hand are Ghanaian consumers, who welcome Nigerians
because of the competitive pricing their presence commands. We gathered that
these category of Ghanaians prefer to buy from Nigerians, whose traders rely
more on huge turnover than on a hefty profit margin.
In any case, the issue seems to be morphing into an intractible
imbroglio. Six years have rolled by since the crisis broke, yet the sticking
points remain: Should citizens of ECOWAS Member States be subjected to the same
somewhat stringent formalities for floating a business in Ghana required of
people from other parts of the world?
Hon. Obi, NUTAG National VP, thinks citizens of ECOWAS member
states deserve some exemptions. “I believe ECOWAS would cease to be relevant,
if we continue like this”, he remarked.
Flashback
Shops owned by numerous
Nigerians had earlier been shut by Ghanaian authorities from April 2009 to
early 2010. Although all seems calm and quiet from time to time, there is a
current of mistrust beneath the surface. In deed, a report titled, Tension brews at Suame Magazine;
on page 17 of the August 26, 2011 edition of Daily
Guide, pointedly brought the issue to the fore.
“Tension is brewing at Suame
Magazine, a business hub of Kumasi, following a threat by an association of
retailers to stop foreigners from engaging in retail and petty trading in the
area”; read the overture of the Daily
Guide story.
According to the report, members of Suame Magazine Retailers Association
(SMRA), an affiliate of Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA), “have been
angered by the growing number of foreigners, mainly Nigerians, engaged in
petty-trading and retail and have consequently threatened to stop them from doing
business in the area, if government fails to act in that direction”.
During a chat with Morgan
Owusu, Kumasi correspondent of Daily
Guide, SMRA Chairman, Kwame Brenyah, reportedly wondered: “Why
government had failed to enforce the country’s laws on trading”. Citing
relevant statutes as regards foreigners wishing to engage in trading in Ghana,
Mr. Brenyah, who is also GUTA Representative for Ashanti Region; is reported to
have lamented; “foreigners, particularly Nigerians, had taken over Magazine … and
were selling all manner of goods on tables in the area, a trading activity
reserved for Ghanaians”.
According to the report, Brenyah accused “some of the foreigners
of employing indecent business tactics to push Ghanaians out of petty-trading
and retail business”. He observed that some of the foreigners posing as
wholesalers turn around to retail their products at cheaper costs, after
selling the same goods to Ghanaians engaged in the retail business”.
Brenyah had gone on to laud Ghana Investment Promotion Council,
which set up a task force that “went round arresting foreigners engaged in
petty trading and retail activities”. Interestingly, Brenyah, in the same
breath; alleged that “the (GIPC) task force split up, when some ambassadors in
the country, whose natives were affected by the exercise, raised concerns over
the matter”.
Brenyah had subsequently
threatened that members may resort to self-help or to take the law in their
hand since his association “believes government is unwilling to protect the
business interests of local people”. Mr. Brenyah had gone on to declare: “We
are giving government a few weeks to act or we will act ourselves”, the Daily Guide report had forewarned.
Parting on a lighter note
It is worth pointing out that, most of those affected have been
resident in Ghana’s Ashanti Region for over 20 years. This explains why many of
them speak the indigenous tongue, Twi, fluently. Chief Obodoekwe is an indigene
of Igbo Ukwu, Aguata LGA in Anambra; but, he speaks eloquent Twi.
When asked how good his comprehension of this Ghanaian tongue
was, he enthusiastically interjected: “O, I love the language. But, I must
admit that my Twi is not better than that of this man (Chief Okpala), who
speaks the language like an indigene”.
Chief Okpala, of Nwabuike
Industries Ltd, is a Japanese motor spareparts trader and has lived in Kumasi
for 21 years. When asked, how his Twi could be better than Onwa’s; the latter
offered: “You know, some people are better at grasping languages than other
people”.
