Nigerian retailers who deal in spare parts at Suame Magazine are not happy with the actions of the Ghana Union Traders Association.
Yesterday, GUTA members at Suame Magazine held a press conference in Kumasi to tell the Nigerian retailers to leave.
The laws of Ghana prevents foreigners from being retailers but the Nigerians especially are saying the laws of ECOWAS gives them the permission to work in Ghana as ECOWAS laws allow West Africans to trade in other West African countries.
There were reports that some Ghanaians attacked some Nigerians at Suame Magazine, telling them to close their shop and leave.
“The incident was reported to the police and they told us to open our shop”, a Nigerian retailer was heard saying.
The incident occurred after the government of Ghana released a press statement asking foreigners who are into retailing to close their shops as their work is against the laws of the country.
The Nigerians and those from other West African countries believe they are operating within the laws of ECOWAS and also did what the laws of Ghana require of them.
This is not the first time such an incident is happening in Ghana. Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, during his tenure as the Prime Minister of Ghana, asked foreigners to leave the country. At that time, there were a lot of Nigerians in the country and as a result, the Nigerian government also asked all illegal immigrant to leave the country.
Due to this history between the two countries, some people have asked the government and those asking the foreigners to leave to think twice as they can also retaliate.