ACCRA: Ghana and Nigeria’s persistent trade war must be resolved through the adoption of strategic and innovative ways to deepen social and economic diplomacy within the sub-region, Ambassador William Azumah Awinador-Kanyirige, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, has said.
Trade relations between the two leading nations in the West African sub-region with a combined population of 200 million has been chequered, with both sides accusing each other every so often of protectionist tactics.
“We don’t have any major problem, we just have to be strategic and innovative in solving this challenge. There are certain challenges which have emerged daily during business interactions, let’s see how best to resolve them,” Ambassador Awinador-Kanyirige told the B&FT on the sidelines of the ‘Doing Business in Ghana II’ forum organised by the Ghana-Nigeria Business Council (GNBC).
The forum, among other objectives, was aimed at fostering unity and cordial relations between the two countries. It was also meant to further improve trade ties which underpin both countries’ mutual effort to grow their economies.
The Council was formed to provide a platform for stimulating economic development, social and business interaction among members. It is also to promote trade relations for the purpose of national development between both countries through a regular exchange of information among members.
The forum brought together participants from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, and business chieftains from both countries.
Ambassador Awinador-Kanyirige encouraged the two countries to educate their nationals on the various ECOWAS trade protocols, to enable them operate within the laws of member-states and help drive trade. He observed that there is a large pool of Ghanaian and Nigerian professionals in the diaspora with wonderful talent and ideas, and the two countries need to develop measures that tap into it.
“We should tap into the energy and talent of the professionals in the diaspora by using our diplomatic missions abroad. There are a lot of young graduate professionals in Europe, Canada, the US and other places. Many of them have been energised; when they hear success stories in Ghana and Nigeria they feel proud, they want to be part of the success stories. We need to put measures in place to attract them,” he stated.
Currently, Ghana and Nigeria are at the forefront of economic integration in the West African sub-region. The two countries account for as much as 61 percent of the population and a remarkable 68 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of the ECOWAS region.
Nigeria accounts for almost 10 percent of Ghana’s foreign trade volume whereas Ghana is listed as the 9th largest trade partner for Nigeria.
Mr. Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan, Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, urged Ghanaian business executives to expand their frontiers to the Nigeria market since the country boasts a large population and its attendant opportunities.
“Businessmen operating in both countries need to cooperate to improve on trade operations, so as to promote economic development between Ghana and Nigeria that will attract foreign direct investment inflows,” Ambassador Onafowokan said.
Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, said Ghana and Nigeria should deepen relations beyond trade and diplomacy and look further into areas of culture and social ties. “Government is committed to supporting events like this to promote business operation in the country. I urge companies doing business in Ghana to consider the country’s laws and regulations, because the country will not compromise on its laws,” he stated.
