Clement Boateng is the National
Organiser, Ghana Union of Traders Association. He speaks on the closure
of Nigeria’s land borders and how it is affecting businesses in his
country in this interview with ALEXANDER OKERE
Why did your organisation condemn the closure of land borders by the Nigerian government?
It
(border closure) wasn’t a right decision because it infringes on the
ECOWAS protocol. The foundation of the ECOWAS protocol is the free
movement of people, goods and services. So, if for close to three
months, the borders have been closed and people cannot move freely,
goods cannot exit or enter, then it defeats the ECOWAS protocol. That
was the reason our association issued a statement condemning the closure
of the borders by the Nigerian authority.
How specifically has this affected Ghanaian traders?
It
is not only Ghanaian traders that the closure has affected; it has
affected almost all the ECOWAS countries that are using the borders – it
affects Benin (Republic), Togo, Ivory Coast and Liberia. Our
association issued that statement for the purpose of all the (affected)
countries.
Have you received any response from the ECOWAS Commission over the closure?
We
are amazed that the ECOWAS Commission has not said something or
commented on the closure of the border. Before Nigeria closed its
borders, it should have done some consultations with the countries that
would be affected by the closure.
Are you saying no consultation was done?
No
consultation was done before we realised that the borders were closed.
We can even attest to the fact that Nigerians are complaining about the
closure because Nigerian farmers cannot export their products.
One
of the reasons given by the Nigerian government for the closure was the
need to stop smuggling, promote trans-border security. What’s your
reaction to that?
Well, if those were the reasons given for
the closure of the borders, especially regarding security, I wouldn’t
have much problem with that. But the manner the whole exercise was done
wasn’t the best. We are worried about that. The Nigerian government
should have informed other ECOWAS members, their security agencies,
about the exercise it wanted to embark on to check security issues,
rather than just closing the borders. Now, people’s goods that are
perishable have gone bad and people have lost huge sums of money. I
don’t think it is the best.
Can you quantify how much your members have lost since the closure?
I
cannot quantify what we have lost. I cannot specifically say the amount
that has been lost. But as far as I am concerned, we have lost a huge
sum of money.
Can you list some of the goods from Ghana that have been affected?
Nigeria
has something known as ECOWAS trade mobilisation scheme which means
that all the 50-member states can send goods that are manufactured by
each country to each country. But for three to four years, Nigeria
banned 41 items which cannot be imported and the ECOWAS Commission is
not saying anything. Some of the goods banned by Nigeria are poultry
products, pharmaceuticals, textiles and furniture and I don’t think this
is the best thing to do because one of the reasons for the
establishment of ECOWAS is promote trade among the member-states with
goods manufactured by them.
Nigeria had also alleged a breach
of the ECOWAS protocol on transit demand by some neighbouring countries
that tamper with the seals of transit containers from Nigeria. How would
you respond to that?
Well, if there was a breach, Nigeria
has every right to complain to the trade department of the ECOWAS to
sort it out. Anything that breaches the sovereignty of a country within
the ECOWAS commission must not be allowed.
Do you think Nigeria’s decision has any implication on its economy?
I
don’t think the closure of the borders was the best thing to do because
in September alone, Nigeria made about N115 billion, which which was a
boost to its revenue. But Nigeria thinks the closure is good and wants
to extend it to 2020, that’s why my association has complained and our
government must talk with them (Nigeria). They (Nigeria) said they were
going to open a special corridor for us to channel goods from Ghana
going there and the other way round. But we want a total opening of the
borders. However, if the special corridor is in the interim, I think we
will take it like that.
Smuggling of illicit food items is a
major problem affecting local economies. What has the Ghanaian Trade
Union done to sanction its members who may be involved in smuggling?
As
far as we are concerned, none of our members has been engaged in
smuggling. I visited Nigeria twice or thrice in a year and no member of
my association has been arrested for engaging in smuggling. I can say
that Ghanaians don’t engage in smuggling.
How does the union
intend to implement the proposed boycott of made-in-Nigeria products,
according to the reported statement you issued?
I don’t know
where that came from. Maybe one of my regions issued that statement. But
as far as I am concerned, the national association has not come out
with any statement of that nature. I will have to check from my regions.
As far as the national (body) is concerned, we haven’t called for any
boycott.
Why is your country not happy with the border closure?
The
Ghanaian government is not happy and that was why, when we complained
to the government, our foreign affairs minister had to quickly rush to
Abuja to engage the Nigerian authorities. That resulted in an agreement
that they will open a corridor for us. The Ghanaian government is
working things out with the Nigerian government.
What has been the impact of the border closure on Ghanaian families?
The
impact has been negative. We also have a number of Nigerians who are
engaged in business in Ghana. They bring their goods from Nigeria to
trade but they are all complaining. It is taking a negative toll on
business and it is not only Ghanaians that are complaining.
What will your association or Ghanaians do if the current situation continues for a long time?
We are praying that it doesn’t continue. But if it continues, we will not have any option than to look somewhere else.
What exactly do you mean?
We
can go anywhere. One of the reasons we are doing business with Nigeria
is because it is close to us. Even if you are flying in, in 45 minutes,
you are in Lagos; you can do your shopping and come back. If you go by
bus, in eight or nine hours, you will be in Lagos. But if it comes to a
point that the borders are not open and business cannot go on, we won’t
have any other alternative than to go to Dubai or Europe and bring our
goods from there. We may boycott Nigeria for Dubai and other countries
if this continues.
Do you think Nigeria’s economic will feel the brunt in the long run?
It
will. I belong to the spare parts industry and my business counterparts
are complaining that they have not been making any sales since the
closure of the border. So, in the long run, it is the Nigerian economy
that will be affected because they (Nigerian traders) will not make
sales to be able to pay their taxes or import goods so that the Nigerian
government can generate revenue.
How best can African countries address the problems associated with trans-border trade?
The
solution to the problem is for the authorities to open their borders
and make their security agencies patrol the borders day and night to
check smuggling. Those doing genuine business should be allowed to take
their goods across the borders.
