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Tag: Ghana

  • No diplomatic row with Ghana – FG

    No diplomatic row with Ghana – FG

    There is no diplomatic row with Ghana, the federal government has stated.

    It also denied media reports that the country’s High Commission in Ghana has been evicted.

    The property located at No.10 Barnes Road, Accra was recently reallocated to Amaco Microfinance by Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with the consent of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration following the expiration of the lease agreement on the said property.

    A statement by Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana, Michael Olufemi Abikoye, on December 31, 2019 lamented a terse letter dated 27th December, 2019 was received from Solicitors acting on behalf of Amaco Microfinance Company Limited, Accra “giving instructions for the High Commission to vacate it’s diplomatic property at No.10 Barnes Road, Accra
    .
    “The letter further stressed that failure to comply within stipulated time will lead to depositing the Mission’s belongings at the nearest Accra police station.”

    As at 31st December, 2019, the Ambassador stated that “the property has been broken into by the company and is being ransacked with the likelihood of being effectively occupied.”

    However Abikoye expressed surprise that the reallocation was done ”without recourse to the High Commission” despite having requested severally for “a mutual resolution of the matter, affirming that Nigerian Government is examining the situation and that an appropriate directive was being awaited”.

    In its official response, Nigerian Government in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that talks were still on-going between the Mission and appropriate host authorities.

    Clarifying the situation, it noted that the building in question is not the one housing the Mission or chancery but that the mission only has some of its properties within the premises.

    The statement signed by Mr. Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reads: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to news circulating in the social media that its property on No. 10 Barnes Road, Accra, Ghana has been ‘violated’ by the host authorities and that there is a diplomatic row between Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana. The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the news reports are untrue.

    “The Ministry wishes to clarify that the said property under reference was in use by the Federal Ministry of Finance, since 1957, on leasehold and was later bequeathed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    “The lease is said to have expired recently and the High Commission has been exploring the possibility of renewing the lease agreement with the host authorities. It should be noted that the building is not physically occupied but the Mission has some of its properties within the premises.

    “It should further be reiterated that the property is not housing either the Residence of the High Commissioner or the Chancery or staff quarters. However, talks are still on-going between the Mission and appropriate host authorities.

    “There is therefore no imminent diplomatic row with Ghana as being speculated by a section of the media. We wish to assure all and sundry that the Ministry is on top of the situation.”

  • Beyoncé’s mum, Tina Knowles spotted in Ghana

    Tina Knowles, Pop superstar Beyonce’s mother has been spotted in Ghana after her photo with an airport staff surfaced online, heightening rumours that Beyonce could already be in Ghana.

    The singer’s coming supposedly has nothing to do with music and everything to do with the Year of Return and its Full Circle celebrations, aimed to support cultural ownership, economic collaboration in Africa and building bridges between Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.

    Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter was first reported to be coming to the country with her husband Jay Z in January 2019.

    This was after the first Full Circle Festival was held on December 31, 2018, and attended by the couple’s friend, Boris Kodjoe, his wife and 40 other African American Hollywood stars.

    Beyoncé’s visit, however, is reportedly top-secret.

    She is scheduled to travel to Cape Coast, the Central Region capital to tour the Elmina and Cape Coast Castles like many of her colleagues before her, such as Steve Harvey and T.I and his wife Tiny.

    Célestine Ann Beyoncé, known as Tina Knowles-Lawson, is an American businesswoman and fashion designer known for her House of Deréon and Miss Tina by Tina Knowles fashion brands.

    She is the mother of singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles and was previously married, until 2011, to Mathew Knowles, the manager of Destiny’s Child as well as Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams.

  • Senate investigates alleged discrimination against Nigerian businesses in Ghana

    The Senate has mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Trade and Investments to, as a matter of urgency, interface with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the status of Nigerian businesses in Ghana.

    The decision to do so was reached during plenary on Tuesday following the consideration of a motion on “The need to investigate alleged ill treatment and injustices suffered by Nigerian Traders and Businesses in Ghana”.

    Sponsor of the motion, Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah (YPP, Anambra South) said many Nigerian businesses were established in Ghana following the desire of the Ghanaian Government to promote trade relations with Nigeria under President Kufour.

    According to the lawmaker, the presence of Nigerian businesses created thousands of jobs and contributed to the growth of the Ghanaian economy.

    “As at the end of 2010, Nigerian businesses accounted for sixty percent of foreign investments in Ghana from the African continent.

    “Of recent, the once flourishing economic relations between Nigeria and Ghana have come under repeated threats as a result of recent hostile posture of Ghanaian authorities and indigenous Ghanaian Traders Union towards Nigerian traders through the adoption of discriminatory regulations aimed at frustrating Nigerian traders and businesses such as the passage of the Ghana Investment Promotion Commission (GIPC) Act,” he stated.

    The GIPC Act, according to Ubah, “raised the amount of money in registering businesses owned by foreigners – who are mostly Nigerians – in Ghana to USD$200,000 and further restriction and prohibition of foreigners from trading in particular markets.”

    The lawmaker bemoaned what he described as the “molestation of Nigerian traders and other hostile acts directed against Nigerian businesses such as the recent closure of over six hundred shops and businesses belonging to Nigerians carried out by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) on December 2, 2019.”

    He added that the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act 865 of 2013 prohibits ECOWAS citizens from engaging in Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs).

    Ubah disclosed that among the many obstacles placed on the way on Nigerian entrepreneurs is the requirement of proof of importation of USD$1million into Ghana as applicable to citizens of non-ECOWAS member states such as China and India.

    The lawmaker recalled that Nigeria and Ghana had previously set up a Joint Task For-e from the Trade Ministries of the two countries to inspect business facilities of companies registered under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) to address threats to business interests of Nigerians in Ghana.

    According to Ubah, all measures and protection offered Nigerian traders under the ECOWAS framework have failed to address incessant threats to Nigerian businesses in Ghana, warning that “the situation may deteriorate into a serious diplomatic and economic crisis.”

    Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, in his contribution, said the allegation of discrimination against Nigerians was for the most part in the motion speculative.

    Yusuf argued that the introduction of legislation by the Ghanaian authority was most likely aimed at insulating their economy and protecting the interests of local entrepreneurs.

    “I support the intendment of this motion, it is very good and the intendment is excellent. However, I differ from the procedure of achieving the intendment of this motion.

    “Some few weeks ago, we passed a bill here on procurement, and we were trying to protect the interest of our local or indigenous companies.”

    “I have read through the motion and I find that there are so many areas that are highly speculative, and I don’t think in this chamber we work on things that are speculative.

    “To talk about the $200,000, I think they (Ghanaians) are trying to protect themselves, it is not targeted at Nigerians.

    “In as much as they (Ghanaians) have come out with certain policies, I think we should be very careful to embracing the issue here and debating it.

    “My own suggestion on this is that we should be very careful how we handle this kind of motion so that we do not create a diplomatic row”, Senator Yusuf cautioned.

    Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South) said, “I think the intendment of this motion is the protection of our citizens living out of Nigeria.

    “Maybe the drafting may have been such to raise our emotions where we talk about the question of discriminatory acts and so forth.

    “I think that we should just let this motion seek to make sure that we call attention to the fact of what is happening to our citizens outside of this country, and see a way of making sure that they are not unduly punished for reasons best known to the countries where they belong.”

    In his concluding remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said “this situation is another dimension of a lack of understanding, or maybe lack of intervention and early engagement between the two countries.”

    “I think the time has come for Nigerian authorities to engage the Ghanaian authorities with the single mind of getting a solution to this problem because this has been happening for a long time.

    “So, we need to know what is happening, and together with the executive arm of government, we have to find a solution to this,” Lawan said.

  • Ghana-Nigeria beef is fake – Cardi B

    Cardi B was last week, in Africa for the first time ever, to perform in Nigeria and Ghana.

    The American rapper sure had a lots of fun, but then.. she noticed that there was a whole lot of tension between Ghana and Nigeria.

    Cardi has said the ‘tension’/beef between the two West African neighboring countries isn’t true, as portrayed outside the world. She compared both countries with Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

    Ghana and Nigeria have been at ‘war’ on social media over politics, entertainment and most importantly, food (especially jollof).

    “I didn’t know that the beef between Ghana and Nigeria is fake. They are just like Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico – they love each other but they fake beef with each other,” she told her Instagram fans.

    She added that she wished she had more time to spend in Ghana and Nigeria because she enjoyed her stay.

  • Trending: Nigerians, Ghanaians in Twitter war over Cardi B

    Nigerians and Ghanaians are presently embroiled in a Twitter war over Cardi B.

    The ongoing virtual war is not the first to take place between the two countries; recall there is an unsettled debate over which of the duo cook the best ‘Jollof’ rice.

    The recent Twitter war was triggered after Nigerians lashed out loud at celebrities in Ghana who were allegedly shunned by Cardi B, during her visit to the country.

    Cardi B was reportedly meant to meet some of the celebrities in Ghana during her visit which didn’t happen. This, however, didn’t go down well with them as they took to their social media pages where they called her out.

    See how the Twitter war is going :

  • Ghanaian celebrities angry after Cardi B snubbed them (videos)

    Vociferous Afia Schwarzenegger who was one of the showbiz personalities eager to meet Cardi B and exchange pleasantries took to social media to express her fury about the unpleasant development.

    The comedienne labelled organisers of the event ‘idiots’ while mentioning that she will not wait any longer because she is not cheap.

    “For a meet and greet, and then we will be sitting here and she is chewing khebab and the next is, Cardi B will be available at 8:30 PM. Idiots! Do you know how my time cost?” she fumed. “I go to wedding 40 minutes and I take GHC10,000 equivalent to 2,000 dollars. I should sit here and wait for Cardi B? The cheap, talentless, fameless celebrities need it and they can do it. Me, I am Queen Afia Schwarzenegger, Queen of comedy. I shit in her mouth.”

    Socialite Hajia4Real who is equally angry has said she feels embarrassed.

    “I am really hurt. I am so so disappointed,” she said. “You know I was officially invited alongside with other celebrities to come and have a meet and greet with Cardi B but guess what? The organizers didn’t even let her show up, I came to the pool side and where she was chewing khebab. Yeah, it’s so embarrassing, like I’m sorry, all the celebrities that came out, sorry to you guys, sorry to me. We deserve better like this is really really sad. You know, I am a fan that is why I agreed to be here but I was treated anyhow.”

    Wendy shay who was also angry wrote; “So, you guys called us to come have a one-on-one lunch date with Cardi B and she has been chewing Khebab for 7 hours in her room, without showing up. What do you guys take Ghana celebrities for? This can never happen in Nigeria. Wake up Ghana! She is cardi B and I am Wendy Shay!”

  • Border closure: Ghana traders’ union calls for boycott of Nigerian products

    Border closure: Ghana traders’ union calls for boycott of Nigerian products

    As Nigeria’s land border closure bites West African countries, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has called for a total boycott of all Nigerian products imported by Ghana.

    The move, the traders union believes, will force the Nigerian government to open up its land borders for foreign goods. Nigeria partially shut its borders since August.

    According to Ghanaweb.com, Greater Accra Regional Secretary of GUTA, David Kwadwo Amoateng on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Friday said the Nigerian government has not been fair to foreign traders.

    In return, he expects the Ghana government to prevent Nigerian traders from bringing goods into Ghana, but that plea has fallen on deaf ears.

    “Either somebody’s bread has been buttered or we are cowards. Government is not being fair to us,” he fumed.

    Mr Amoateng cited how Dangote cement had taken over the market while local ones from GHACEM are suffering.

    “Let’s boycott Nigerian products as payback to their government’s action. How can we be slaves in our own country?” he said.

    Mr Amoateng argued that the issue, if not checked, could hamper the Continental Free Trade Area.

    Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has appealed to Ghanaian traders to remain calm as it works with the Nigerian authorities to ease its ban on the exportation of Non-traditional products.

  • South Africa grants Ghana visa-free status, denies Nigeria

    South Africa grants Ghana visa-free status, denies Nigeria

    South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has added Ghana to a list of seven countries whose nationals will be permitted to enter South Africa visa-free.
    Nigeria was not included despite the large volume of trade between the two countries.
    South Africa announced in September 2018, that it was finalising a number of visa waiver agreements with other countries including Ghana to allow travellers to enter the country without a visa.
    According to the Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, citizens of the seven countries are able to enter South Africa without a visa.

    “Tourism will soar if we relax visa requirements for entry into South Africa. We know that Tourism is very important for job creation,” he said today at a briefing in South Africa.
    “Out of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa-free status to 75 countries. Of these 16 are in our continent and are SADC members and 59 are from all over the world.”

  • Kevin Prince Boateng mocks Ghana after AFCON exit

    Kevin Prince Boateng mocks Ghana after AFCON exit

    Ghanaian football player Kevin-Prince Boateng has taken a jab at the Black Stars following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt on Monday.
    The West Africans’ hopes of ending a 37-year trophy drought ended following a 5-4 penalty shootout defeat against Tunisia in the Round of 16, the match having ended 1-1 after extra-time.
    Boateng hasn’t returned to the Black Stars squad after his behaviour was called into question at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil. The German-born player, who spent the second part of last season on loan at Barcelona, was snubbed for Afcon after indicating an interest to return to the national team.
    “No PRINCE no PARTY, ” Boateng wrote on a Twitter post with the hashtags “GhanaBlackStars” and #Afcon.
    Ahead of the Egypt gathering, Ghana Football Association Normalisation Committee chairman Kofi Amoah revealed Boateng, together with Sulley Muntari, who was also suspended during the controversial World Cup campaign, had expressed interest to be considered for the competition.
    Boateng won 15 caps and scored two goals during his two spells with the four-time African champions.
     

  • 2019 AFCON: Tunisia beat Ghana on penalties to reach quarter-finals

    Tunisia beat Ghana on penalties to set up an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final with Madagascar.

    Goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha was the hero, coming on for the shootout and saving Caleb Ekuban’s penalty.
    Tunisia had been seconds away from winning in 90 minutes, but substitute Rami Bedoui headed into his own net in injury time, with his first touch.
    They had led in Ismailia through Taha Yassine Khenissi’s goal from Wajdi Kechrida’s cross.
    Leeds striker Ekuban was the only player to fail with his kick in the shootout, with Ferjani Sassi scoring the winning kick.
    Tunisia now face Madagascar, ranked 108th in the world, on Thursday, despite not having won a game in 90 minutes. The Eagles of Carthage drew all three group games before their penalty shootout win over Ghana.
    The Black Stars dominated the opening stages of the game, and Nuhu Kasim’s header hit the outside of the post.
    They had a first-half goal controversially disallowed. Thomas Partey fed Jordan Ayew, who crossed for his brother Andre to score a backheel.
    The referee ruled the goal out for a Partey handball, with VAR not coming in until the quarter-finals, but the Atletico midfielder controlled the ball with his chest.
    Tunisia took control when Wahbi Khazri, who was an injury doubt, came on in the 68th minute. Moments later his corner was headed on to the bar by Khenissi.
    The breakthrough came as Khazri backheeled the ball into the path of Kechrida, whose cross was swept home via the post by Khenissi.
    Ghana’s Mubarak Wakaso had a 30-yard shot tipped on to the post and then had a hand in the equaliser.
    Defender Bedoui came on for Khenissi in the last minute to help them see the game out – but headed Wakaso’s free-kick into his own net with his first involvement.
    Both sides had chances in extra time, but failed to take them, so the game went to penalties.
    BBC