The Nigeria Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) says authorities in Ghana are still prohibiting Nigerian shopkeepers from doing business in that country.

NUTAG President Chukwuemeka Nnaji told News Agency of Nigeria that conciliatory efforts by VP Yemi Osinbajo and Speaker Femi Gbajamiala have not resolved the dispute.

Mr. Nnaji said, “The locking of shops belonging to Nigerians by Ghanaian authorities hinders our doing business lawfully.

“I think every plea from the Nigerian government has fallen on deaf ears of the Ghanaian authorities…”

Ghanaian authorities say many Nigerian traders in the country do not have all the right paperwork. Mr. Nnaji denies this claim.

“I am aware most of our members complied [with regulatory requirements]. All the documents that [our members presented to the] Ghana Investment Promotion Council are original not fake,’’ he said.

VP Osinbajo and Speaker Gbajabiamila have visited Ghana in the last two months to meet the country’s leaders about the impact of an ongoing crackdown, which affects Nigerian shopkeepers there. 

Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo is also in Abuja this week to meet President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Ghana is enforcing a law that restricts foreign investment in small businesses.