The former President of Ghana, Dr. John Dramani Mahama has come hard on the Nigerian government, calling on the immediate reopening of the the borders, which were closed a few months ago.

Mahama made the call while speaking as the guest speaker at the 7th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews magazine held at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

He said: “In Nigeria, the unilateral closure of the borders since August is a worrying development for the growth of free trade in the ECOWAS sub-region. Off course, one can understand the harmful effects of unbridled smuggling goods on the growth of local production. But it is problematic that sub-regional economic activity and trade should suffer because of domestic institutional weaknesses.

“Nigeria must invest in strengthening its institutions and systems that are responsible for preventing the importation of illegal or prohibited goods

“The total closure of, especially, the Benin border is having a significant toll on many small and medium businesses especially in Togo, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire that rely on this inter-country trade. I am sure that businesses in Nigeria that rely on supplies from these countries are also suffering.

“With the signing of the joint border task force agreement between Nigeria and her neighbours, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to Nigeria to open up her border so that economic activities can resume.

“As the largest economy in West Africa, I believe it is not by accident that Nigeria is home to the headquarters of the Economic Community of West Africa States. The import of the following quote from the objective principles for establishment of ECOWAS cannot be lost on us.”

Source: http://thebossnewspapers.com/2019/11/19/reopen-border-strengthen-your-weak-institutions-ex-ghana-president-john-mahama-tells-fg/

Its only a clueless mo.ron dat would leave an institutional problem and b chasing rats

Like Jonathan like Mahama

There were both vp when their country president died

They both lost reelection after first term as president

They both have no balls

How did he get to Nigeria if the border is closed? Your people should transport goods through the means which you used to transport yourself here

Ghana ex-president is still talking because he is still eating once a day, by the time he goes two days without food, then he will know that Nigerians no be dem papa mate. Useless burnt offerings.

USA has competent Immigration, Customs and Excise, Police and Army, yet USA is still building a wall against Mexico. Now, tell me something else.

eTECTIV:
Its only a clueless mo.ron dat would leave an institutional problem and b chasing rats

What do we call the people that gave birth to you now?

Omooba77:
The former President of Ghana, Dr. John Dramani Mahama has come hard on the Nigerian government, calling on the immediate reopening of the the borders, which were closed a few months ago.

Mahama made the call while speaking as the guest speaker at the 7th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews magazine held at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. Hi

He said: “In Nigeria, the unilateral closure of the borders since August is a worrying development for the growth of free trade in the ECOWAS sub-region. Off course, one can understand the harmful effects of unbridled smuggling goods on the growth of local production. But it is problematic that sub-regional economic activity and trade should suffer because of domestic institutional weaknesses.

“Nigeria must invest in strengthening
its institutions and systems that are responsible for preventing the importation of illegal or prohibited goods

“The total closure of, especially, the Benin border is having a significant toll on many small and medium businesses especially in Togo, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire that rely on this inter-country trade. I am sure that
businesses in Nigeria that rely on supplies from these countries are also suffering.

“With the signing of the joint border task force agreement between Nigeria and her neighbours, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to Nigeria to open up her border so that economic activities can resume.

“As the largest economy in West Africa, I believe it is not by accident that Nigeria is home to the headquarters of the Economic Community of West Africa States. The import of the following quote from the objective principles for establishment of ECOWAS cannot be lost on us.”

http://thebossnewspapers.com/2019/11/19/reopen-border-strengthen-your-weak-institutions-ex-ghana-president-john-mahama-tells-fg/

this man is mad when your country man they close Nigerian shops where r you,. You said nothing when we close our border you remember ECOWAS nonsense

It seems Ghanaians are really feeling the heat of this border closure... It's well ooo

[s]

helinues:
Like Jonathan like Mahama

There were both vp when their country president died

They both lost reelection after first term as president

They both have no balls

[/s]

Nice one

See the common sense, the rational deduction. Why is Mahama not my president

The level and quality of discussions in this country has never been this low. Nigeria don razz for everybody eye

Nonsense, Nigeria have played the big brother enough!

efighter:


What do we call the people that gave birth to you now?

you have no home training obviously,otherwise you did make your comment without including parents who may even be unaware of nairaland's existence.

efighter:
Ghana ex-president is still talking because he is still eating once a day, by the time he goes tow days without food, then he will now that Nigerians no be dem papa mate. Useless burnt offerings.

USA has competent Immigration, Customs and Excise, Police and Army, yet USA is still building a wall against Mexico. Now, tell me something else.

The issues are not the same.The issue they have is illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico. Totally Mexico's fault.

Yours is NIGERIAN CITIZENS importing rice into Nigeria from neighboring countries. Totally Nigeria's fault.

helinues:
Like Jonathan like Mahama
There were both vp when their country president died
They both lost reelection after first term as president
They both have no balls

Oma ku iku Jonathan

nku5:
See the common sense, the rational deduction. Why is Mahama not my president

The level and quality of discussions in this country has never been this low. Nigeria don razz for everybody eye

If you want Mahama to be your president he can be... Just close your eyes and go back to the year he was Ghana's president and stay there.

musicwriter:


The issues are not the same.The issue they have is illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico. Totally Mexico's fault.

Yours is NIGERIAN CITIZENS importing rice into Nigeria from neighboring countries. Totally Nigeria's fault.

Sebi you make sense with this your comment abi?


I no curse you o!...I just dey look you

Buhari doesn't know the borders and customs are there to prevent smuggling in the first place.. ECOWAS should expel him

Omooba77:


Oma ku iku Jonathan

Agbalagba Ki n se Oro bi ewe..

Same people you are forcing allignment with have been disgracing you here on NL..

Grow up from being petty

[s]

helinues:


Agbalagba Ki n se Oro bi ewe..

[/s]

Okoso1:
[s][/s]

We fulfilled our promises yesterday.. May be 2 accounts today sha

Good job done, Sir Michael Lawna

[s]

helinues:


We fulfilled our promises yesterday.. May be 2 accounts today sha

Good job done, Sir Michael Lawna

[/s]

no amount of talking can save you from us
relax and enjoy your contract
you've seen a lot of people like you from experience
where are they today

we're on the job of fixing trolls

Okoso1:
[s][/s]

no amount of talking can save you from us
relax and enjoy your contract
you've seen a lot of people like you from experience
where are they today

we're on the job of fixing trolls

We are saying the same thing.. Good restless job you got..

Game on

[s]

helinues:


We are saying the same thing.. Good restless job you got..

Game on

[/s]
thanks for the complement. now shatap and enjoy your contract

The most sensible advice since.

Yes our greatest challenge is our weak institutions,if we fix them we fix Nigeria. And you guys should bear in mind that our northern border is not closed.

Okoroawusa:

If you want Mahama to be your president he can be... Just close your eyes and go back to the year he was Ghana's president and stay there.

See Buhari type of logic

eTECTIV:
Its only a clueless mo.ron dat would leave an institutional problem and b chasing rats

So USA that is building a wall against Mexico has institutional weakness too, right? lol funny lot

nku5:

See Buhari type of logic

see Jonathan type of logic

Yes we should strengthen our institutions just like our partner countries should

There is no nation that can police thousands of kilometres of borders if its partner countries institutionally sabotage it.
Right now Nigeria has neither the capacity nor the resources to strengthen institutions in the short term.
Institutions are not strengthened in days or weeks.
So I assume the speaker is indulging in Rhetoric.

Even the US with all its men and horses cannot police its own border and is contemplating a wall.
Israel built a wall to protect it from terrorism so nothing new there. We do not have the money for a wall so temporary border closure is legitimate and it is producing results in forcing our partners to negotiate

We need our partners to cooperate with us which they are failing to do.

What is at stake is not just rice but security and border closure is a legitimate tool