Gbawe:

Highly regretable that you and others , from what I have read so far , endorse tit-for-tat actions best left in the past. Historically, Ghana sent Nigerians packing first. Do some research into it if you don't believe me. Some Ghanaians  back then , like you are doing now, will have endorsed our shameful past deportation of their brothers and Sisters based on the dubious premise that they did it to us first. Where will it end? Protectionist actions amongst member States of an economic regional bloc against each other is virtually unseen today.

The classy thing for Ghana to do would be for her to formally withdraw from ECOWAS  if it feels that it derives no benefit from th bloc and that it is now self-sufficient and beyond needing its African sister Nations. It is dishonourable to be a member of an economic regional bloc and then undermine the noble objectives that set up such a union in the first place.

A lot of noise has been made about how Ghana is now the "ideological Giant of Africa". This action rubbishes that assertion and proves that Ghana , like most other African nations, will panic when placed , above its real capability, to accomodate others equitably as " the happening place in West Africa" (according to Bennyboi) . Ghana is keen to show it can "School" others yet a few Nigerian businesses later and fellow West Africans are now to be treated as expatriates !!!! What a joke !!!! WHy does Ghana not go the whole way by insisting Citizens of West African nations obtain a Visa before visiting ?

Some Nigerians don't understand English Language

How does saying that I don't want to get excersized over someone elses wish which I don't have control over amount to an endorsement of tit-for-tat?

Someone can only be your brother if they want, if Ghanaians think they have become so successful that their brotherhood with Nigeria is of no use to them any longer. It is not for me to cry about it, neither should Nigeria. We just have to re-adjust.
That is how serious Nations operate. It takes 2 to tangle.

mikeansy:

Some Nigerians don't understand English Language
How does saying that I don't want to get excersized over someone elses wish which I don't have control over amount to an endorsement?

Someone can only be your brother if they want, if Ghanaians think they have become so successful that their brotherhood with Nigeria is of no use to them any longer. It is not for me to cry about it, neither should Nigeria. We just have to re-adjust.
That is how serious Nations operate. It takes 2 to tangle.

Please don't insult my comprehension skills. This is what you wrote that I responded to:

It was once a policy to evict Ghanaians in Nigeria and if they have decided to tow this line in this day and age it is entirely up to them

I am simply telling you that it is not "up to them" .

It is obvious that you consider Ghana's action an allowed option since Nigerians deported Ghanaians in the past when it is clear that condemnation is the only thing the Ghanaian Government should recieve for this nonsense . In any case what is your response to the fact that Nigerians could claim justification for the eviction of Ghanaians because Nigerians were expelled from Ghana previous to the disgraceful "Ghana-must-go" excercise?

Kobojunkie:


What? Nigeria will become the defacto regional power? Last I checked, Ghana is a sovereign country and does not need to consult Nigeria FIRST before making decisions which it believes is in its best interest. Sure, it could dialogue with Nigeria but I don’t see how that should get in the way of a plan that could, not only help increase and better manage foreign investment but also help improve its economy and guard against some of the problems that we have allowed with our loose relationship with most of the foreign ( both ECOWAS and non-ECOWAS) investors.
But this is not about NOT wanting to deal with its neighbors. I read the same article and it seems this is Ghana trying to get better control of investments and investors.

No one is saying that Ghana is not a sovereign nation. Since it is Nigerian Companies are going to be affected by the new policies and Nigeria is also a sovereign country, it is expected that ghana uses diplomatic lines to communicate with Nigerians to manage perception and a backlash, now that is only if ghana regards the nigerian relationship something of importance. There is nothing wrong if ghana doesnt consider a relationship with nigeria something to pursue or develop.

Now the main problem is how Ghana is going to answer the Nigerian question? Nigeria will always be around is not going anywhere.  They can either step up to the plate and chose to form a working partnership that will benefit both countries and the region or they can tell everyone to go to hell which will none the less mean the start of unproductive measures against each other (afterall they are a sovereign nation).

The world is what it is now you either deal with it the intelligent way or the african way. Since ghana is supposedly taking over the"giant of africa staus"   lets know which way they chose.

The two countries will acheive more if they partner together rather than act out old colonial nkrumah vs giant of africa scripts

Gbawe:


It is obvious that you consider Ghana's action an allowed option since Nigerians deported Ghanaians in the past when it is clear that condemnation is the only thing the Ghanaian Government should recieve for this nonsense . In any case what is your response to the fact that Nigerians could claim justification for the eviction of Ghanaians because Nigerians were expelled from Ghana previous to the disgraceful "Ghana-must-go" excercise?

So you think that ghana has no right to do that?
they do have the right and they seems to be getting ready to execute that right, and no one can do anything, hopefully, this will make our govt to do something back to counter the action of such.
And hopefully the govt will do something that will make our our nation be good enough for habitation

Kobojunkie:



Please tell me the above is a JOKE. What has the above, which you point out was as a result of our government’s stupid policies to date, to do with this  new move by Ghana to protect it's own?

Protectionist government policies about to go wrong?

Kobojunkie:

GM and saturn are not government in this case and can continue to pursue whatever policies they choose.  

I think they are government owned aren't they or you gonna say all that money dished out to them don't come with no control over policy.

Kobojunkie:

Actually is can be considered in exactly that way. In fact it could actually work that way. If it is more expensive for foreign businesses, it actually enables an environment where local business can better compete and grow alongside foreign businesses. we do not have such an environment in Nigeria today and that seems to be why our local businesses continue to struggle.

It is the government’s job to provide an environment where its own people can better compete. Western governments provide subsidies so their farmers can best compete; China has done similar for decades now and we see where that got them. Look at how the Chinese were able to take away most of the American market and jobs as a result. Why should Ghana not be able to do the same, or something similar?

Your so called free-market has been allowed over 30 years and counting. How much has it prospered the community compared to the level of prosperity gained from Non-Ecowas states in the same amount of time?

I'll conceed to the point that the Chinese model may have worked out for them in terms of the long standing closed market policy but they had a population size and a fairly advance technological know how that buffered this agenda.

I hope little Ms Ghana has the resources and manpower to pull that one off seeing how small their population size is and how they practically have no functioning sector less tourism.[quote][/quote]

It was once a policy to evict Ghanaians in Nigeria and if they have decided to tow this line in this day and age it is entirely up to them

That was way back then. Nigeria will not be able to do that in this age and time without serious international outcry.
The same goes for Ghana, they cant pull this nigeria must go plot without coming out scared

so do we remain on this seesaw and keep going back and forth or do we move on with life and times

Fhemmmy:

So you think that ghana has no right to do that?
they do have the right and they seems to be getting ready to execute that right, and no one can do anything, hopefully, this will make our govt to do something back to counter the action of such.
And hopefully the govt will do something that will make our our nation be good enough for habitation

I did not say that. America invaded Iraq and made justification , albeit fraudulent , for the attack. All Good folks spoke against that action. George Bush and Tony Blair will remain condemned for their rash and impetuous actions that keeps costing the USA and the UK massively to date while the French , and others who opposed the war vocally , can bask in the 'justness' of their stance that is now borne out as ethical and correct . Iraq is destroyed and the World is now more unsafe because of America's 'little adventure' many condemned. North Korea, Iran and any rogue nation can claim , with justification, that America cannot stop them attacking others when no nation could hold the USA back when it decided to go into Iraq !!!!!

Same argument here. Ghana can do what it wants but all good people will condemn its action and the dangerous precedence being set. We will see the future repercussion of Ghana's action.

Gbawe:

Please don't insult my comprehension skills. This is what you wrote that I responded to:

I am simply telling you that it is not "up to them" .

It is obvious that you consider Ghana's action an allowed option since Nigerians deported Ghanaians in the past when it is clear that condemnation is the only thing the Ghanaian Government should recieve for this nonsense . In any case what is your response to the fact that Nigerians could claim justification for the eviction of Ghanaians because Nigerians were expelled from Ghana previous to the disgraceful "Ghana-must-go" excercise?

How am I in support of Ghana's action and then go on to suggest that the actions of Ghana should have repercursions.

And does me making the point that Ghana is taking these actions in this 'day and age' not suggest to you that I think the actions of Ghana are shameful and should belong to the past?

Look you can think what you like, but you conpletely misunderstood the my point. And are also getting some of your logic wrong. I will spell out my positions once again since you can't seem to get it.

1. Ghana's Immigration and Foreign policies can only be determined by the Ghanaian Government. It is their choice.
While their actions will always attract reactions from other countries whether negative or positive. We must not loose sight of the fact that their actions are entirely up to them. When obama was campaigning he threatened to regotiate NAFTA, as we speak David Cameron is threatening to renegotiate EU Treaty. So Ghana are well in their right to try to renegotiate ECOWAS treaty, its up to other ECOWAS nations to either expel Ghana or not.

These are the fundamentals of International Relations I need you to realise not the nonsense talk about who is your brother and who is not. We don't even share bothers with Ghana so what is the noise about?

2. Am in support of Gahana's actions? NO. Will I get excersized? NO. Because like I say it is not the first time in history and we do not have control over the choice Ghana makes for itself as a sovereign Nation. If they even want Nigerians to travel to Ghana with Visa so be it. We can only respond in kind. While our reactions can possibly get them to rethink their policies we need to understand that it is not up to us to determine their policies in the first place because they are a sovereign Nation.

These are the point I am making? If you can't understand them then I am sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

babzyshe:

No one is saying that Ghana is not a sovereign nation. Since it is Nigerian Companies are going to be affected by the new policies and Nigeria is also a sovereign country, it is expected that ghana uses diplomatic lines to communicate with Nigerians to manage perception and a backlash, now that is only if ghana regards the nigerian relationship something of importance. There is nothing wrong if ghana doesnt consider a relationship with nigeria something to pursue or develop.

I agree! Just so you note, Nigerians tend to lash out no matter what. I mean look at the situation with Fashola and traders. Even when they were given notices prior to eviction, there was still a backlash ( not that I am saying that the way the government handled it was right).

babzyshe:

Now the main problem is how Ghana is going to answer the Nigerian question? Nigeria will always be around is not going anywhere.  They can either step up to the plate and chose to form a working partnership that will benefit both countries and the region or they can tell everyone to go to hell which will none the less mean the start of unproductive measures against each other (afterall they are a sovereign nation).

True and it seems they have actually agreed on some working partnership considering a handful of our companies have moved to Ghana regardless.

babzyshe:

The world is what it is now you either deal with it the intelligent way or the african way. Since ghana is supposedly taking over the"giant of africa staus"   lets know which way they chose.

The two countries will acheive more if they partner together rather than act out old colonial nkrumah vs giant of africa scripts

Where did Ghana state it is TAKING over the “Giant of Africa” Status? Where? Nigeria is not even the giant of Africa. It has not been Giant for decades considering most all it seems to have is the population and not much else.  

The two countries, through ECOWAS have partnered for over 3 decades now. What has that done for Ghana? In that time, Nigeria has steadily decayed and Ghana is only trying to pull itself up out of the pit. Why should it continue to partner with a lay GIANT, if it knows it can gain much more with many others in the same pool?

morpheus24:

Protectionist government policies about to go wrong?

We just saw how LIBERAL policies have helped reduce America to what it is today and you sincerely believe this is wrong? Japan, Germany and other big countries out there are finally turning around to protect their people from this same and you think this is worse? Lol. 

morpheus24:

I think they are government owned aren't they or you gonna say all that money dished out to them don't come with no control over policy.

Only RECENTLY did they become partly government owned. And if the government and people are willing to continue funding it ( meaning the companies remain LOCALLY owned, then fine).

morpheus24:

I'll conceed to the point that the Chinese model may have worked out for them in terms of the long standing closed market policy but they had a population size and a fairly advance technological know how that buffered this agenda.

Let’s think in terms of resource for a bit. China has population, not much of other resources, to work with and it did the best it could with that and has so far gained so much more as a result. Ghana may not have population but it has other resources it can pool together to achieve next to the same. As for advanced technological knowhow, China was only able to get that when it started applying its population resource to obtaining that. Ghana can do the same . . . send out its youth in numbers as China did or even pay specialists to come teach its own right there and before you know it, it can also boast of the same or similar.  Essentially, what China has done can be duplicated in even places like Ghana; maybe not exactly the same way, but similar results can be obtained.

morpheus24:

I hope little Ms Ghana has the resources and manpower to pull that one off seeing how small their population size is and how they practically have no functioning sector less tourism.

I believe Ghana has more than enough and if it pools it all together for its own benefit, the sky is the limit. Same can be applied in Nigeria.

what a shame on Africans. Africa still has a long way to go. It is a lesson well learnt. It feels more like
a stab in the back. I think that is why this issue is so sensitive. "GHANA", ordinary Ghana.

Nigeria really needs to wake up from slumber. Less about the government; I wonder want the average
Ghanaian thinks about this because I know the government and the peoples opinion can be different.

radiovibe:

what a shame on Africans. Africa still has a long way to go. It is a lesson well learnt. It feels more like
a stab in the back. I think that is why this issue is so sensitive. "GHANA", ordinary Ghana.
Nigeria really needs to wake up from slumber.

I agree that nigeria needs to wake up from slumber but the phrase "ordinary Ghana" is the reason while the 2 countries have been at logger heads for 51 yrs (yes its been that long).

As a Nigerian i know that you are refering to the fact that Nigeria has been given much and much is expected from her but that is not what it means outside our borders. These seeds of enmity based on comparing "balls" have been sown even before the nigerian independence and it is sad that it is still flourishing even now.

na them sabi @ topic.

The Nigerians in Ghana should always have such possibilities at the back of their mind and plan accordingly, imo.

First of all Ghana has a population of 20 million. They are well organized. I think what they learnt how to do most is Orderliness. they may not know how to make money like Nigerians but they are organized.

Your kids are going to Ghana to study in their universities. Most of their private universities are filled with Nigerians. Some of your kids are here in Ghana that came to school are pregnant with babies.

We are condemned to make Nigeria better or the worse will happen to us. We are becoming irrelevant as goliath. We must rise up not a against Ghana but against immorality and organise ourselves.

God Bless Nigeria

rethink:

First of all Ghana has a population of 20 million. They are well organized. I think what they learnt how to do most is Orderliness. they may not know how to make money like Nigerians but they are organized.

Your kids are going to Ghana to study in their universities. Most of their private universities are filled with Nigerians. Some of your kids are here in Ghana that came to school are pregnant with babies.

We are condemned to make Nigeria better or the worse will happen to us. We are becoming irrelevant as goliath. We must rise up not a against Ghana but against immorality and organise ourselves.

God Bless Nigeria

You have a point, however, if Ghana comprises of all the animals that we ave in Nigeria and with the kinda population, i bet they wont be able to handle it.

Lol Ghana has every right to, if they want. I used to think this Ecowas thing is nonsense. Ghana will surely see the repercussion of their actions. Right now they are adopting Western way of thinking IN AFRICA, the result will always be bad. The Western world made their policies for the benefit of oyibos not africans. Ghana is already in debt wey pass Nigerias own,
and they are Heavily Indebted Poor Country. What exactly does ghana produce that any other country in west Africa doesnt? They will be cutting themselves off more than any country.


if only Nigeria had smart Govt peeps

Its obvious Nigerians are becoming a nuisance and liability wherever they flock to. Lord have mercy.

Ghana is already in debt pass our own = We are better than Ghana . . . See thinking!!!!  Kai!!!

hahahahahahahaha.

udezue:

Its obvious Nigerians are becoming a nuisance and liability wherever they flock to. Lord have mercy.

Kobojunkie:

Ghana is already in debt pass our own = We are better than Ghana . . . See thinking!!!! Kai!!!

I didnt say we or ours, so think alittle harder.

you will continue make pointless statements and baseless arguments

sjeezy8:

Lol Ghana has every right to, if they want. I used to think this Ecowas thing is nonsense. Ghana will surely see the repercussion of their actions. Right now they are adopting Western way of thinking IN AFRICA, the result will always be bad. The Western world made their policies for the benefit of oyibos not africans. Ghana is already in debt wey pass Nigerias own,
and they are Heavily Indebted Poor Country. What exactly does ghana produce that any other country in west Africa doesnt? They will be cutting themselves off more than any country.


if only Nigeria had smart Govt peeps

Indeed. With how Ghanaians , all over the internet and in public discussions,  are proclaiming themselves as the "real Giant of Africa" (never mind South Africa) and their nation as "the happening place in West Africa" coupled with the rants of "Nigerian armed robbers must go" it was terribly obvious that it wont be long before the Ghana Government concludes myopically that its fellow West Afican nations , most especially Nigeria, now constitute a liability to the "ideological giant of Africa" .

Nothing spoil and Ghana is allowed to feel how it wants but life must still go on for the rest of us. To that effect Ghana should do the classy thing and formally withdraw from ECOWAS instead of setting a catastrophic precedence, as an influential member State,  that undermining the core ideals of ECOWAS  is an acceptable thing to do. West Africa is still fragile. It does not need trade wars and protectionism. Ghana is certainly allowed to conclude that she is going places right now and the rest of us are not and never will . To that extent Ghana should formally cut its ties with the 'losers' and "leeches" that surrounds it.

@ Kobojunkie.

I think you are illogically critical of your own going by some your posts on this site. But I think if you were your self well informed about the Ghana must go issue, you'll know that the Ghanaians were the first to start sending Nigerians out of Ghana. Ghana must go was a reaction not a cause. You should know that Nigerians were largely living in Ghana without understanding that it's a new era of where there are boarders; therefore they started acting like they were at home where ever they go. Like spraying money in concerts, Punching holes through currency notes and putting threads around it and hanging it around their necks with beads and many other things that Ghanaians dare do. This lead to inferiority complex in many natives and they started hating as usual. But you know my people now, party and work hard!!!!! So know when to be critical and when it's not needed. It was the Nigerians that came back from Ghana that made it known of what was going on in Ghana. Many lost their investments and properties in Ghana. I think any nation would react the way Nigeria did. My grandpa told me this story well cause I wasn't even close to being born when this happened.

Ghana can go ahead and do what it wants but seriously it won't be de ja vu cause Nigerians have way more stuffs to handle these days. Maybe they'll be a driving force for Nigerians to build their nation. Seriously Nigerians need a kick in the ass hard enough to make them keep moving. Maybe if every nation on this planet close their boarders to Nigerians and start deporting us all back home, we'll be forced to build a nation. Many people will be ready to fight for better governance once such happens.

The fact is ECOWAS is grossly inefficient and clearly ineffective.

Every right thinking country should try to resolve its own problems 1st and foremost.

This Ghanaian decision ,if true,is certainly myopic. . . but can anyone blame them ? .

If Nigeria's leaders were thinking about their own country we wouldn't be in this mess we're in.

For the record : I DON"T AGREE WITH THIS GHANAIAN INVESTMENT POLICY PROPOSAL ^{if true},but i salute the rationale.

What a selfish nation? If Nigeria was as self centred as her, where would her citizens of 1980s ran to when they were confronted with severe hardship? The Ghanian government should learn how to be its brothers keeper and know that a tree can never make a forest.

9jaganja:

@ Kobojunkie.
I think you are illogically critical of your own going by some your posts on this site. But I think if you were your self well informed about the Ghana must go issue, you'll know that the Ghanaians were the first to start sending Nigerians out of Ghana. Ghana must go was a reaction not a cause.

Regardless of your PERSONAL view of my posts, I don’t see where this post has made mention of RETALIATION, neither was there a mention of the Ghanian government doing this in response to the GHANA-MUST-GO incident of decades ago.

If you really were reasonable, you would have searched and figured out by now that there are other ECOWAS states affected by this move, and businesses owned by folks from those states, currently in Ghana, will be affected in the same manner as Nigerian businesses would. Any who, like I pointed out earlier, when it is on the INTERNATIONAL FRONT, there is always a BACKLASH to be expected by the Nigerian group and a move to make it a NIGERIA-ONLY issue.

9jaganja:

You should know that Nigerians were largely living in Ghana without understanding that it's a new era of where there are boarders; therefore they started acting like they were at home where ever they go. Like spraying money in concerts, Punching holes through currency notes and putting threads around it and hanging it around their necks with beads and many other things that Ghanaians dare do. This lead to inferiority complex in many natives and they started hating as usual. But you know my people now, party and work hard!!!!! So know when to be critical and when it's not needed. It was the Nigerians that came back from Ghana that made it known of what was going on in Ghana. Many lost their investments and properties in Ghana. I think any nation would react the way Nigeria did. My grandpa told me this story well cause I wasn't even close to being born when this happened.

I don’t know your people, so please spare me your grandmother’s tales. I actually lived during the Ghana must go era and I can tell you that if the situation was as simple as you claimed above, it would have been less terrifying. Stop believing that your people are always the saints and maybe the truth might not have to hit you HARD.
Any who, I would appreciate it if you educated yourself on the situation in Ghana during that same time. That might help you understand where some of this started.

9jaganja:
Ghana can go ahead and do what it wants but seriously it won't be de ja vu cause Nigerians have way more stuffs to handle these days. Maybe they'll be a driving force for Nigerians to build their nation. Seriously Nigerians need a kick in the ass hard enough to make them keep moving. Maybe if every nation on this planet close their boarders to Nigerians and start deporting us all back home, we'll be forced to build a nation. Many people will be ready to fight for better governance once such happens.

UUUmmm . . . . Ghana is simply changing the law for foreign businesses. Nowhere does it say NO NIGERIA BUSINESSES CAN DO BUSINESS IN GHANA. PZ and other Nigerian businesses are planning to move out to Ghana, even with the new laws, and I suspect many more will follow. The Country has RIGHTS to change laws that it believes needs to be changed. Not everything is about Nigeria, and the Ghanaian government is not there to serve Nigerians; it is there to serve the interest of the Ghanaian people first and foremost.

african nations never learn anything.  what will they possibly gain from this apart from driving ecowas countries away.  every where else trade blocks are being formed and you this happening

oluajana:

What a selfish nation? If Nigeria was as self centred as her, where would her citizens of 1980s ran to when they were confronted with severe hardship? The Ghanian government should learn how to be its brothers keeper and know that a tree can never make a forest.

When did Ghana become Nigeria's brother? By Birth or what? ECOWAS? As many have mentioned, ECOWAS itself has yet to help improve the situation in most of the member states. Why should a Country be forced to continue with what has yet to yield great results for it when it probably believes there are better alternatives out there? After 30 years in the relationship, you think Ghana has no right to decide now if the relationship has worked for it or not?

Anywho, the point is Ghana is brave here as in trying to shed old ties and plot new paths for itself. There is absolutely no point in continuing down a path that has brought you mostly mediocrity and taken you further away from your dream. If severing these ties and creating new ones is the way to go for the people, I am ok with it. Now, if only my dear country would think the same way, good for all of us, cause the previous plans are yet to yield dividend enough for us all to justify holding on to them.

As for the claim that this is a WESTERN move,  I was of the impression that it was earlier agreed upon that even the WEST would not do what Ghana has decided to do here. So which is it? Is this WESTERN OR NOT? How?

Ghanaians are not selfish,
have u forgotten how Yoruba party (UPN) lead by Mr Awolowo in 1980 persuaded Shagari to deport them so that Yorubas will fill the vacancies vacated by Ghanaians.
The deportation of Ghanaians were a Yoruba policy, so that they will satisfy their selfish interest.
Today God is helping them

rethink:

First of all Ghana has a population of 20 million. They are well organized. I think what they learnt how to do most is Orderliness. they may not know how to make money like Nigerians but they are organized.

Your kids are going to Ghana to study in their universities. Most of their private universities are filled with Nigerians. Some of your kids are here in Ghana that came to school are pregnant with babies.

We are condemned to make Nigeria better or the worse will happen to us. We are becoming irrelevant as goliath. We must rise up not a against Ghana but against immorality and organise ourselves.

God Bless Nigeria

speak for yourself plz.

Those of you with concerns or relatives in Ghana should organize yourselves and voice your worries to either govt.

I took me a while to understand what Ghana is doing right that we aren't. on my first sojourn to the accra i could almost swear i was i Ilorin or some other outskirt city in Nigeria. It was not as if the place was overly developed and there were untared roads everywhere. But then it struck me. The main difference were the people. There was no hussle and bustle, there was smiles on everybody's faces and a sense of contentment. You felt at peace; safe and secure. You were not afraid that someone could at any moment obtain you for no reason . This is an import driven economy but you would never know it. So, we as Nigerians want to feel security. In our investments, in our lives, in our ambitions. That is why Ghana is held in higher regard that Nigeria. People make a NATION.