Ghana’s deputy ministers with Nigeria’s d el egation
A GOVERNMENT
delegation recently met with Nigeria’s Comptroller General of Customs Services,
Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, on the need to re-open Nigeria’s borders.
The
delegation was made up of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional
Integration, Charles Owiredu, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos
Ahenkorah and the Deputy Commissioner of CEPS, Seidu Yakubu.
The meeting
took place Thursday at the Comptroller General’s office in Abuja.
The
delegation, had a day earlier, met with Ghanaian stranded drivers at the
Seme-Krake border of Nigeria and Benin.
The Abuja
discussions centred on the need for Nigerian authorities to implement their
part of the agreement reached a couple of weeks with Ghanaian authorities to
the effect that if Ghana provided them with information about the particulars
of drivers who are stuck at the Seme-Krake border, they would create a safe
passage for them to enter Nigeria with their goods.
Ghana’s
Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and
Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyeremanten brokered the deal with their
Nigerian counterparts this month.
At the
meeting which also took place in Abuja, the Nigerian authorities explained that
the aim of the border closure was to prevent the entry of contraband goods from
Benin including rice. They highlighted that Ghana was not their target.
During the
latest meeting, Col. Ibrahim Ali indicated that he could not give a definite
response to the call by Ghana for the border to be opened within 24-hours
because he needed to consult his superiors.
The borders have remained shut since August 21, 2019.
BY Melvin Tarlue
