Some Ghanaian traders on Wednesday ransacked the shops of their Nigerian counterparts at Suame near the country’s second biggest city, Kumasi.
A significant number of Nigerian traders selling at Suame locked up their shops to avoid being attacked.
The Nigerian traders opened their shops following assurances from the Police about improved security after almost a week of similar attacks.
But the Police failed to honour their promise until the Nigerian shops were raided.
The Ghanaian traders burnt tyres and chanted war songs, compelling the Nigerian traders to lock up their shops and flee the markets.
Concerns with Nigerians
The Ghanaian traders have accused their Nigerian counterparts of selling substandard products and engaging in illegal activities.
They have also accused the Nigerian traders of flouting the country’s law that restrict selling in the retail market to Ghanaians.
But the Nigerian traders have denied the accusations.
Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Chief Kizito Obiora, said the Nigerians have been targeted, for the involvement of Nigerian nationals in the recent alleged kidnappings in Ghana.
“We have been forced to close their shops since last Friday and all through the weekend, and the perpetrators are demanding that we leave the country to Nigeria. But Nigerians at Suame Magazine are law-abiding”, he said.
He said the Nigerian traders are living in fear in the wake of the attacks.
Government condemns attack on Nigerians
Ghana’s Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has cautioned Ghanaians not to take the laws into their own hands in attacking the Nigerian traders.
He hinted that the Trade Ministry and the Immigration Service are resolving the impasse.
“If someone has violated the law, for instance, you work without a fire license or permit, then the law will deal with you. Let me stress that the Ministry of Trade and the Ghana Immigration Service are dealing with the impasse. ”
Source: Africafeeds.com
