The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) has commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) over its planned efforts to evacuate Nigerian traders from Ghana.
The groups’ commendation was expressed at an Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting held in Abuja which was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Labour, Interior, Trade and Investment, Foreign Affairs, NIDCOM and traders’ groups.
The traders had, in a letter seeking immediate evacuation of Nigerian traders in Ghana which was endorsed by 753 traders and delivered by a delegation led by the President of NANTS, Dr Ken Ukoaha, to the NIDCOM on November 20.
Ukoaha, who led the traders to the Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting, expressed the groups’ appreciation to the government for the concern it had shown over the plight of Nigerian citizens, particularly the traders, in Ghana.
He said: “We are glad and also appreciative of the efforts put in by the Federal Government of Nigeria; over the welfare of its citizens in Ghana who are our members.
“Then, in response to the appeal letter we sent to the president over the sufferings of our traders in Ghana; we have come to learn that the government has evaluated the pros and cons of all our appeals.
“Government has also decided to respond and the response is so positive to us in the sense that government is not leaving any stone unturned; and also it will explore all available diplomatic and reciprocal means.
“On the evacuation, the government has also said it will respond to that after the Ghana general election. We are very comfortable with that decision. Therefore, we commend President Muhammadu Buhari and commend his administration for finding us worthy to be given such protection
“We have given a list which the government has and it contains 753 names and the government has reviewed it and is comfortable with the list. Every other thing starts after the Ghanaian election; and we are good with the government’s position.
“The list has traders and other business actors; including their family members, who are ready to be evacuated”, the NANTS leader added.
Earlier in his remarks, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zubairu Dada, who presided over the meeting, said that evacuation of the Nigerian traders from Ghana would commence after the Ghanaian general election on December 7.
He hinted that arrangements had been put in place by the government to achieve this, adding that government is also looking beyond the evacuation of the affected traders in its bilateral relations with Ghana.
