In spite of the visit of ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation to Ghana, the Inter-Agencies Task Force yesterday went on to enforce the law banning foreign traders operating in Ghana's small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

The taskforce closed shops owned by foreign nationals at the Makola Market in Accra, and other markets invaded by these non-Ghanaians, who were operating illegally in Ghana's retail business sector.

The Inter Agency Taskforce comprise of officials from the Registrar Generals Department, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Ghana Revenue Authority, Police, Immigration Service, Trade and Foreign Affairs Ministries earlier met to strategize on how to carry out the exercise.

Recently, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Ms. Hannah Tetteh said the monitoring exercise by the Inter-Agencies Task Force would ensure that non-Ghanaians fully complied with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) laws.

"The task force will move in the markets to shut down shops of non-Ghanaians who flout the laws of the land," she said.

Ms. Tetteh noted that the provisions in the GIPC Act 478 was applicable to Ghanaians and citizens of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS), hence the need for non-Ghanaians to comply with the minimum investment requirement of $300,000.

The exercise went on despite strenuous efforts made by the visiting ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation to Ghana to intervene on behalf of ECOWAS nationals.

The President of the Nigerian Community in Ghana, Mr. Albert Bayor, joined hundreds of Nigerian businesses and called for a review of the law. They hoped that the visiting ECOWAS delegation could come to their aid.

The implementation of the GIPC Act 478, which is aimed at ensuring Ghanaians are not pushed out of business by foreign nationals, has irked some Nigerians and other ECOWAS nationals in the sub-region.

Recently, Nigeria, West Africa's largest economy, threatened to severe diplomatic ties with Ghana.

But, Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, who said he was unaware of moves to sever diplomatic ties, said his country had not violated the rights of foreign businesses by implementing the GIPC Act.

http://ghanaian-chronicle.com/taskforce-closes-shops-owned-by-foreign-nationals/

I think it's time to teach Ghana a little lesson.

Arosa: I think it's time to teach Ghana a little lesson.

or its time for us to learn a lesson. we should develop our country

This is clearly an act of agression.

The Federal Govt should retaliate appropriately.

Troops should be sent to protect Nigerians goods from being misappropriated.

GEJ - hope you've heard!

dadde:

or its time for us to learn a lesson. we should develop our country

My friend use your brain. This has NOTHING to do with ''developing our country''. Are Chinese in Nigeria doing business because they need to ''develop their country'' or are they here because of market saturation in China?

Nigerian business people overseas are there because they reckon they can make more profit from the greater demand in non-saturated markets like Ghana. In fact their moving abroad to make profit indicates growing economic buoyancy in Nigeria.

Rossikk:

You have no brain. This has NOTHING to do with ''developing our country''. Are Chinese in Nigeria doing business because they need to ''develop their country'' or are they there because of market saturation in China?

Nigerian business people overseas are there because they reckon they can make more profit from the greater demand in non-saturated markets like Ghana.

Well said.

Personally I think we should BREAK DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH GHANA.

This nonsense has gone on too long.

I can bet you their economy would collapse like a house of cards if we pulled the plug on them. Stop the low priced oil supplies, order our banks and financial institutions to divest from their economy. And finally, we could clandestinely sponsor their neighbours like Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to destabilize them, since they have no real army to defend their country. In fact we could mess them up so badly they'd be worse than Somalia in 3 years. In the end, we'll send in our ECOMOG troops to save them from themselves, and they'll become another grateful Nigerian 'colony' like Sierra Leone and Liberia.

^^^ I think suspension from ECOWAS would be enough for now. further minor sanctions from naija will follow after that.

What about the Chinese who came into Nigeria under the pretense of opening factories only to start importing and retailing goods?What are our government doing about it? And they use low price to drive Nigerian retailers out of business.And now some of them who have relocated to Ghana to continue their retail business are being driven out.What are they suppose to do now.Our government should look seriously into this issues.I wonder what our immigration department is doing?Most of these Chinese don't have legal document to work in Nigeria.Many don't even have valid visas.Yet they are here running our country men out of business and repatriating the proceeds from this retail business back to their country.

Rossikk:

My friend use your brain. This has NOTHING to do with ''developing our country''. Are Chinese in Nigeria doing business because they need to ''develop their country'' or are they here because of market saturation in China?

Nigerian business people overseas are there because they reckon they can make more profit from the greater demand in non-saturated markets like Ghana. In fact their moving abroad to make profit indicates growing economic buoyancy in Nigeria.

off-course am using my brain. Chinese come to Nigeria becos its the largest market in Africa but most Nigerian in countries Like Ghana and CIV are seeking for favourable environment. Nigeria is a better market than Ghana any time. tell me what can you sell in Ghana that there is no better market for in Nija?

My broda, stop fooling urself, Nigeria needs to wake up. very soon Benin republic will still start to chase us out.

Ndata: What about the Chinese who came into Nigeria under the pretense of opening factories only to start importing and retailing goods?What are our government doing about it? And they use low price to drive Nigerian retailers out of business.And now some of them who have relocated to Ghana to continue their retail business are being driven out.What are they suppose to do now.Our government should look seriously into this issues.I wonder what our immigration department is doing?Most of these Chinese don't have legal document to work in Nigeria.Many don't even have valid visas.Yet they are here running our country men out of business and repatriating the proceeds from this retail business back to their country.

well said my brother. there over half a million Ghanaian doing business in Nigeria without any one disturbing them.

dadde:

off-course am using my brain. Chinese come to Nigeria becos its the largest market in Africa but most Nigerian in countries Like Ghana and CIV are seeking for favourable environment. Nigeria is a better market than Ghana any time. tell me what can you sell in Ghana that there is no better market for in Nija?

My broda, stop fooling urself, Nigeria needs to wake up. very soon Benin republic will still start to chase us out.

You're talking rubbish my friend! So why are Chinese coming to Nigeria when there are over 2 billion people in China? Or do we have more ''favourable environment'' than China? Surely the market in China must be a better market than Nigeria to use your logic?? Why are Indians coming to Nigeria when there are 1 billion people in India? Surely there must be a better market in India than Nigeria? Some of you simply cannot make any cogent sense if it does not include criticising Nigeria. You need to snap out of it. Of course the reason the Chinese and Indians leave their shores to do business in Nigeria is market saturation for their wares in their own countries, the exact same reason that makes Nigerian traders move into smaller countries like Ghana.

It's like asking why Igbo traders go to the north to trade when they can 'easily' work in Lagos or Onitsha. Fact is those southern markets are saturated and profit margins are slimmer than if you go up north where the numbers of traders are smaller. Same principle.

If Nigeria wasn't such a basket case they won't be there in the first place..

^^If you weren't a basket case dunce, you would read this thread and understand the principles behind trader mobility before typing your illiterate garbage.

Rossikk:

You're talking rubbish my friend! So why are Chinese coming to Nigeria when there are over 2 billion people in China? Or do we have more ''favourable environment'' than China? Surely the market in China must be a better market than Nigeria to use your logic?? Why are Indians coming to Nigeria when there are 1 billion people in India? Surely there must be a better market in India than Nigeria? Some of you simply cannot make any cogent sense if it does not include criticising Nigeria. You need to snap out of it. Of course the reason the Chinese and Indians leave their shores to do business in Nigeria is market saturation for their wares in their own countries, the exact same reason that makes Nigerian traders move into smaller countries like Ghana.

It's like asking why Igbo traders go to the north to trade when they can 'easily' work in Lagos or Onitsha. Fact is those southern markets are saturated and profit margins are slimmer than if you go up north where the numbers of traders are smaller. Same principle.

your premises and conclusions are totally wrong, have u asked yourself why would Nigerians prefer to do business in Ghana were there are stiffer tax laws, were there population is not up to that of lagos. the whole water they use in Ghana in a year is not u enough to flush toilets in Lagos

besides, Nigeria is much more favourable for foreigners coming from advanced country cos they just come and dump there products here and siphon the proceeds back to their country. it is easier to import goods into Nigeria than manufacturing one here. you can ask Mitcheline and other manufacturers why they move why they moved to Ghana.

it appears u have left the country for long an have lost touch with the current realities. u have to wake up my bother.

dadde:

your premises and conclusions are totally wrong, have u asked yourself why would Nigerians prefer to do business in Ghana were there are stiffer tax laws, were there population is not up to that of lagos.

Dude, stop talking crap. Obviously the so called stiffer tax laws are not enough to dent the gains, and are the opportunity cost of higher profits occasioned by a shortage of traders and a large market there. Hence the attraction to Nigerian traders. What other conditions are you on about that would make Nigerian traders work in Accra if not for higher profits? Don't give me that trash that a trader would leave the supposed high profits in Nigeria to work in Ghana merely because of stuff like ''reliable power'' and ''security'' and other so called ''better conditions'' etc. Those are upper middle class concerns for large companies and factories, not small time traders. The fact is Nigerian (read Igbo) traders go to Ghana for the very same reason they go to Sokoto and Maiduguri - ie large numbers of people requiring their products and low competition from other traders. END OF STORY.

Rossikk: Personally I think we should BREAK DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH GHANA.

This nonsense has gone on too long.

I can bet you their economy would collapse like a house of cards if we pulled the plug on them. Stop the low priced oil supplies, order our banks and financial institutions to divest from their economy. And finally, we could clandestinely sponsor their neighbours like Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to destabilize them, since they have no real army to defend their country. In fact we could mess them up so badly they'd be worse than Somalia in 3 years. In the end, we'll send in our ECOMOG troops to save them from themselves, and they'll become another grateful Nigerian 'colony' like Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Sis, I LOVE YOUR POST. We share same ideology, Nigeria should sever diplomatic ties with Ghana immediately, this nonsense has gone on too long.

Are you guys discussing or insulting eachother...Please lets be civil for once...i understand everyone is pretty upset by what Ghana did....but the question remains....will our government take care of us?

Rossikk: Personally I think we should BREAK DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH GHANA.

This nonsense has gone on too long.

I can bet you their economy would collapse like a house of cards if we pulled the plug on them. Stop the low priced oil supplies, order our banks and financial institutions to divest from their economy. And finally, we could clandestinely sponsor their neighbours like Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to destabilize them, since they have no real army to defend their country. In fact we could mess them up so badly they'd be worse than Somalia in 3 years. In the end, we'll send in our ECOMOG troops to save them from themselves, and they'll become another grateful Nigerian 'colony' like Sierra Leone and Liberia.

see how a blackman is thinking smh

Rossikk: Personally I think we should BREAK DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH GHANA.

This nonsense has gone on too long.

I can bet you their economy would collapse like a house of cards if we pulled the plug on them. Stop the low priced oil supplies, order our banks and financial institutions to divest from their economy. And finally, we could clandestinely sponsor their neighbours like Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to destabilize them, since they have no real army to defend their country. In fact we could mess them up so badly they'd be worse than Somalia in 3 years. In the end, we'll send in our ECOMOG troops to save them from themselves, and they'll become another grateful Nigerian 'colony' like Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh........u mean gan ooo.....haba....wetin dem steal wetin u wan throw....Aboki...take am easy ooo

So this is what they pay us back with after OBJ directed NNPC to supply them with 10,000 barrels of oil when they were at a brink of total economic collapse in 2009. Then 3aradua came on and upped the largese to 30,000 barrels. Bleep them black charcoal ass.

Nigeria needs to find an answer to the costant insult coming from Cameroun and Ghana. If we dont make life a bit difficult for these countries, they wont give it a rest.

@Rossikk, for your own good. I think you should save your lessons for someone that wants to learn. Leave those that keep blaming Nigeria for everything.

Nigeria was, has been, is, will forever be greater, stronger, richer, wealthier and better than ghana-multiplied-by-2.
they simply couldn't stand the success of our citizens in their country. Nonsense people!!! those guys you see there are just street husstlers, when the likes of Dngote, Ibeto, Adenuga, etc go to ghana, ghanians will definitely shut down their ministry of commerce, Mtcheeew!!

Arosa: I think it's time to teach Ghana a little lesson.

Are u on crak, is time 4 Nigeria must go. Go and convert 100cides to Naira and see out com. Piss out

So much for Ecowas and the dirty passport. Stu*pid Nigerians. Abeg make dem continue o jare. Until we have to face ourselves. My people, welcome home. Hold GEJ accountable and stop running.

Its quite unfortunate it is happening to Nigerians.We all remember "Ghana must go", Ghanian went home looked at themselves and told themselves the truth by saying we can make things happen in our country.Today things are happening in Ghana that is why the children of the rich now go to Ghana to school,our big men go to Ghana to spend vacation and so on.
Let us face the truth,Ghana has a favourable environment for business, education, leisure etc. Let us make our country better the way we want it and stop complain what Ghanians are doing to us.

dadde:

or its time for us to learn a lesson. we should develop our country

People spread out to new places all the time. You should applaud honest Nigerians who strive to grow by competing outside our shores. More Nigerians will trade outside our shores if Nigeria developed more because we'll have many more rich Nigerians ready to invest outside.

Ghana seems to be full of wimps who can't compete.

dadde:

or its time for us to learn a lesson. we should develop our country

gud point ther! Nigeria must go, a retaiation. SMH

Rossikk:

Dude, stop talking crap. Obviously the so called stiffer tax laws are not enough to dent the gains, and are the opportunity cost of higher profits occasioned by a shortage of traders and a large market there. Hence the attraction to Nigerian traders. What other conditions are you on about that would make Nigerian traders work in Accra if not for higher profits? Don't give me that trash that a trader would leave the supposed high profits in Nigeria to work in Ghana merely because of stuff like ''reliable power'' and ''security'' and other so called ''better conditions'' etc. Those are upper middle class concerns for large companies and factories, not small time traders. The fact is Nigerian (read Igbo) traders go to Ghana for the very same reason they go to Sokoto and Maiduguri - ie large numbers of people requiring their products and low competition from other traders. END OF STORY.

Well Ghana has become an attractive alternative because of the deteriorating business environment in Nigeria. Why is that? The bad state of infrastructure in Nigeria means cost of production is relatively higher than Ghana. If Nigeria was more vibrant and working who needs Ghana. This is the sad reality of our nation. Nigeria should be feeding Ghana' if only...

The Chinese and Indians are in Nigeria because they see an oil rich, highly populated country with vast opportunities. They're only here to plunder our resources and move on. Paeriod

So it all boils than to our visionless leaders that have reduced Nigeria to a beggar state. Imagine Ghana! Ghananians that were chased out from Nigeria. Men we got what we deserve!

hahahaha they ain't seen nothing yet

obraye: Its quite unfortunate it is happening to Nigerians.We all remember "Ghana must go", Ghanian went home looked at themselves and told themselves the truth by saying we can make things happen in our country.Today things are happening in Ghana that is why the children of the rich now go to Ghana to school,our big men go to Ghana to spend vacation and so on.
Let us face the truth,Ghana has a favourable environment for business, education, leisure etc. Let us make our country better the way we want it and stop complain what Ghanians are doing to us.

dadde:
Ms. Tetteh noted that the provisions in the GIPC Act 478 was applicable to Ghanaians and citizens of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS), hence the need for non-Ghanaians to comply with the minimum investment requirement of $300,000.

The exercise went on despite strenuous efforts made by the visiting ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation to Ghana to intervene on behalf of ECOWAS nationals.

The President of the Nigerian Community in Ghana, Mr. Albert Bayor, joined hundreds of Nigerian businesses and called for a review of the law. They hoped that the visiting ECOWAS delegation could come to their aid.

The implementation of the GIPC Act 478, which is aimed at ensuring Ghanaians are not pushed out of business by foreign nationals, has irked some Nigerians and other ECOWAS nationals in the sub-region.

Recently, Nigeria, West Africa's largest economy, threatened to severe diplomatic ties with Ghana.

But, Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, who said he was unaware of moves to sever diplomatic ties, said his country had not violated the rights of foreign businesses by implementing the GIPC Act.

http://ghanaian-chronicle.com/taskforce-closes-shops-owned-by-foreign-nationals/

O Lord. How I miss OBJ right now.