The Republic of Ghana and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have intensified their efforts to deepen economic ties between the two countries.
The development followed the Ghana-Nigeria Business Council CEO Forum 2022 held in Abuja.
The Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Rashid Bawa, during the interview on the sidelines of the Forum, said the two countries were considering various areas of cooperation, especially non-oil such as cassava and ginger production.
He explained that since Ghana and Nigeria were two big economies in the southern region, it was high time for the two countries to formalize the engagement in order to fully leverage the potential between the two countries.
“We are considering different areas of cooperation. There has been a series of meetings that have taken place over the past two days, trying to make business-to-business meetings.
“We are of course looking at non-oil, in the area of cassava production, in the area of ginger, from raw materials to manufacturing.”
Regarding the continuing trade crisis between Ghanaian and Nigerian traders, Bawa reiterated that the two countries have a centuries-old trading relationship that began during the Trans-Saharan trade.
He said the issues have been there for some time, but efforts have been made at the highest level between the two presidents to resolve the issues.
Bawa revealed that the technical committee set up by the trade ministries of the two countries had been instructed to iron out some of the rough edges of the seemingly perennial problems of Nigerian traders in Ghana after the signing of a memorandum of understanding the last year.
“I must say it is so insignificant if you look at it in terms of the investment of Nigerians in Ghana. But it is an issue that needs to be answered.
“So I have to say it is not a general phenomenon in Ghana when it comes to Nigerian traders not being dealt with. It is an issue that as you know even two siblings sometimes have a little misunderstanding that is being ironed out. Very soon it will be a thing of the past,” Bawa also said.
The Chairman of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, previously said the platform was late.
Abubakar, who was represented by a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, said apart from diplomatic and cultural relations between Nigeria and Ghana, business-to-business relations should have been on the platform. form of the two countries for a long time so that at least it is a business-to-business platform to solve problems.
“Especially if this type of platform existed before, we would not have had the crisis that we have with the Nigerians in Ghana because the business-to-business relationship could have addressed that because they are closer to the people and they know the challenges, they know the problems and before the government intervenes, this relationship would have been resolved.
“I think that’s very commendable for this type of very late platforming and we’re saying that this relationship and the platform should continue to be more frequent so that at least it creates first and foremost a closer relationship between the business communities of the two countries and also, it will be a platform to solve problems if there are any along the way”
In addition, Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said the program is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ efforts in the area of economic diplomacy to improve and deepen relations in the economic field with Ghana and other countries on the African continent. .
Onyeama, who was represented by the Deputy Director of the West Africa Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mustapha Tunde Mukaila, assured that the government’s efforts would provide adequate protection for Nigerians in Ghana to conduct their trade.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE TITLES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Buhari urges MTN to provide quality service, downgrade data cost and other services
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday at State House Abuja urged MTN Group to make the premium service available to its Nigerian subscribers… Nigeria insists on strengthening bilateral non-oil relations with Ghana Nigeria insists on strengthening bilateral bilateral non-oil relations with Ghana Nigeria insists on strengthening bilateral non-oil relations with Ghana Nigeria insists on strengthening bilateral non-oil relations with Ghana
