Ghana to seek resolution from legislative
President of Ghana, prof Nana Akufo Ado assured Nigeria House of Representatives Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, of the Ghana Government readiness to recognize the Ghana parliament house in 2nd September, 2020 at the “legislative diplomacy Bilateral” between Nigeria and Ghana senior legislator.
The Ghanaian President gave assurance when Ghana Speaker of parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, led his Nigeria counterpart on a courtesy visit to the President at the Jubilee House Acra, Ghana on Thursday after completing a comprehensive two day dialog.
Legislative Diplomacy Dialog became Imperative as the two Countries’ Parliaments found ways of addressing problems and provide an enabling business environment for foreign traders including Nigerians doing business in Ghana. Several foreign businesses, many Nigerian-owned, in Ghana have been facing challenges in the demand for $One million dollar capital base for foreign traders, as enshrined in the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) Act (2013).
In response to the request by the Speaker of Nigeria, Ref. Femi Gbajabiamila for a review of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) Act to make such conception, President Akufo-Addo Said the request was in order as it “makes a lot of sense”
The Ghanaian President who expressed satisfaction with the visit of Gbajabiamila, endorse it proposal to create a “Nigeria-Ghana business counsel” established by law in both countries.
He told Gbajabiamila he would also raise the issue with President Muhammad Buhari when they meet at the ECOWAS submit on Monday.
“The time has come for us to take this worthwhile steps. I suggested to Mr President that it will be a good idea to set up a joint ministerial community of minister from shepherding Ghana and Nigeria issues, reporting to both President at any one time, and that is how the should be resolved”. He said.
” I am hoping when I see him on Monday for the ECOWAS submit, we can advance this discussion and come to the final conclusion” he added.
In the meantime, communique released jointly at the end of the bilateral meeting between members of the two Parliaments headed by their two respective speakers, Gbajabiamila and Prof. Mike Oquaye, it was agreed that “steps will be taking to help law abiding traders to regularise their business operations properly in order to mitigate the trade difficulties by the alleged closure of retail store, in view of the ravaging impact of Covid-19 pandemic on businesses and families in both countries”.
“A joint community will be established compose of members of both legislator to explore the possible passage of reciprocal legislation, which will potentially called” Ghana-Nigeria Friendship Act” which shall propose quotation “Ghana-Nigeria Business Council” to provide a framework to sustain the friendship and benefits to citizens of the two countries”. He further added.
On his departure from Ghana, Gbajabiamila expressed his gratitude to his counterpart for his statehood, leadership and hospitality, which allowed both countries to resolve thorny issues through legislative diplomacy.
By Eke Mercy
