Envoy Charges Nigeria, Ghana On Movement Of People, Goods

Consul-General of Ghana High Commission in Lagos, Alhaji Abdulai  Abukari, yesterday  in Lagos, urged Nigerian and Ghanaian governments to promote free movement of people and goods in the two countries.
Abukari told newsmen that it had become imperative for both governments to work “jointly” to eliminate the existing barriers to their regional trade cooperation agreements.
“The present state of trade cooperation between Nigeria and Ghana negates the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s protocol on movement of people and goods.
“Many Ghanaians often complain of their negative experiences at Seme-border when travelling to Nigeria for businesses.
“They are requested to present their passports and tax certificates; to me, this is no longer in line with ECOWAS’s protocol on free movement of people and goods,’’ he said.
The consul-general, therefore, urged the two countries to urgently evolve measures that would remove administrative and physical barriers to their regional trade cooperation.
He said that only such measures would promote the recently signed “Nigeria-Ghana Permanent Cooperation and Development” agreement.
Abukari also urged both countries to “explore possible ways” of going into partnerships in the areas of banking, aviation, education, health and tourism.
“Both governments should begin to think of how best to partner in these areas as well.
“Nigeria and Ghana should open up doors of trade and other business investment opportunities to each other in the years ahead,’’ he said.