Country Director of Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), Appiah Kusi Adomako, has called on the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to hold an emergency meeting to resolve the impasse over the Nigerian land border closure.

His call comes on the back of appeals by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) for Ghana to retaliate the action taken by Nigeria.

Mr Appiah Kusi said the ECOWAS Parliament must make Nigeria pledge not to repeat such an action.

“[ECOWAS] Parliament must pass a resolution for an emergency meeting for Nigeria to assure us not to do so again and that will be better than those who are calling for retaliation”, he said on Adom FM’s Burning Issues on Monday, November 4, 2019.

 “Nigeria government didn’t do well and as the headquarters of ECOWAS, they should have emulated leadership”, Consumer Expert said.

Mr. Kusi Adomako also said the action taken by the African giant could be a recipe for disaster if other countries emulate same.

“They have betrayed ECOWAS because other countries may want to strike back that will not be good for us all,” he cautioned.

Meanwhile, David Kwadwo Amoateng, Greater Accra GUTA Chairman said on the same show the Association has taken upon themselves to educate all foreigners who are doing retail business to stop.

“We have been going to their shops, we open the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) law to them and read for those who can’t. After understanding the content, they peacefully close their shops and thank us for not treating them like how other African nationals were treated in South Africa,” he explained to host, Akua Boakyewaa Yiadom.

Mr Boateng said if the government does not take action to stop retail trading by foreigners, it will close all shops and organise a massive demonstration against the matter.

Nigeria closed its frontiers in what it says is to stop the smuggling of products from its neighbouring West African countries into Nigeria.

The action taken by Nigeria was to express its displeasure at the attitude of the Beninese authorities in order to elicit their cooperation.

The closure of the borders, which started in August 2019, was expected to be in force for 28 days. But it has been extended until ending of January 2020.

Meanwhile, Adom News’ sources indicate the government has presented a list of all Ghanaian importers plying the route, upon a request from Nigeria and has promised to create a safe passage for Ghanaian businesses only.

The list was presented on Thursday, October 31, 2019, according to our sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the perusal of the West African neighbours.