Osinbajo Assures Nigerian Traders in Ghana of FG Determination to Achieve Justice
Nigerian traders whose businesses have been under lock in Ghana over government’s decision to charge them $1 million unwarranted fine have been assured that the federal government is determined to ensure that they get justice.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the promise Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of the traders.
In a statement by the Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice President assured that the federal government was concerned about their issues in Ghana.
Ghana had shut down Nigerian businesses in Ghana after imposing an unwarranted fine of $1million which they could not pay.
During the meeting, Osinbajo wile reacting to the maltreatment by Ghanian authorities against Nigerians in the country said the federal government was determined to deal with the issues.
He explained that the delay in addressing the issues with the Ghanian authorities has been as a result of bureaucracy.
Osinbajo said in the statement, “I will certainly convey the depth of your grievances to the president. I am sure that he will be deeply disturbed to hear that despite the assurances that he had received, (from the Ghanaian government) there are still problems and complications.
“I look forward to getting the details and making sure that we are able to begin to resolve some of these issues as quickly as possible. But I think you must also recognise that generally speaking, governments tend to be very slow.
“Processes are slow, bureaucracies are slow, but we will make sure that we do the very best we can to get you your rights so that at least, you are dealt with justly.
“I have followed closely developments here, and many of the incidents that you have described, I am already very familiar with. As a matter of fact, the President had asked that a review of all that had taken place be done.
“There have been direct communications between our President and President Akufo-Addo. Our President has spoken to him about this, he has made a formal complaint to him, and that conversation has been going on. What the Ghanaian government pledged to do, on three occasions, was that the shops will be reopened. In fact, I am a bit surprised that it has not taken place because my understanding was that, that was going to be done.
“So, I think what we need to do aggressively is to follow-up with the Ghanaian government and to see that these things are done.
“I am sure you are familiar with the fact that there was a meeting between the Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana and a team led by our own Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments in Abuja. That took place on September 3, while the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila was meeting with his counterpart here.
“Now, it is very evident from what you have said here that there is so much that had gone wrong over a long period of time and we really need to address these concerns in as detailed a manner as possible. And what I can say to you is that this is a matter that concerns the government very greatly…your welfare concerns us greatly.”
“Perhaps, it might be important if we have specific details of the shops that need to be reopened, so that we can check and say how many (I think that at some point we had a list of about 160 or so, shops). So, I think we should have a list of specifics so that even if we are told that something has been done, we can cross-check and see to it that it has actually taken place.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the promise Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of the traders.
In a statement by the Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice President assured that the federal government was concerned about their issues in Ghana.
Ghana had shut down Nigerian businesses in Ghana after imposing an unwarranted fine of $1million which they could not pay.
During the meeting, Osinbajo wile reacting to the maltreatment by Ghanian authorities against Nigerians in the country said the federal government was determined to deal with the issues.
He explained that the delay in addressing the issues with the Ghanian authorities has been as a result of bureaucracy.
Osinbajo said in the statement, “I will certainly convey the depth of your grievances to the president. I am sure that he will be deeply disturbed to hear that despite the assurances that he had received, (from the Ghanaian government) there are still problems and complications.
“I look forward to getting the details and making sure that we are able to begin to resolve some of these issues as quickly as possible. But I think you must also recognise that generally speaking, governments tend to be very slow.
“Processes are slow, bureaucracies are slow, but we will make sure that we do the very best we can to get you your rights so that at least, you are dealt with justly.
“I have followed closely developments here, and many of the incidents that you have described, I am already very familiar with. As a matter of fact, the President had asked that a review of all that had taken place be done.
“There have been direct communications between our President and President Akufo-Addo. Our President has spoken to him about this, he has made a formal complaint to him, and that conversation has been going on. What the Ghanaian government pledged to do, on three occasions, was that the shops will be reopened. In fact, I am a bit surprised that it has not taken place because my understanding was that, that was going to be done.
“So, I think what we need to do aggressively is to follow-up with the Ghanaian government and to see that these things are done.
“I am sure you are familiar with the fact that there was a meeting between the Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana and a team led by our own Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments in Abuja. That took place on September 3, while the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila was meeting with his counterpart here.
“Now, it is very evident from what you have said here that there is so much that had gone wrong over a long period of time and we really need to address these concerns in as detailed a manner as possible. And what I can say to you is that this is a matter that concerns the government very greatly…your welfare concerns us greatly.”
“Perhaps, it might be important if we have specific details of the shops that need to be reopened, so that we can check and say how many (I think that at some point we had a list of about 160 or so, shops). So, I think we should have a list of specifics so that even if we are told that something has been done, we can cross-check and see to it that it has actually taken place.”
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