The Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabialamila is in Ghana for a meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye, following the recent diplomatic tension.
Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabialamila, head of high powered Nigerian delegation in the country for a two day visit to the Parliament of Ghana and his counterpart, Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye, who met the delegation on arrival.
The two are expected to hold talks on matters pertaining to relations between the two countries following the implementation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act 2013, Act 865.
Setting the tone for the visit when he welcomed the Nigerian delegation, Prof. Oquaye said Ghana and Nigeria are like the tongue and the teeth, and although they may offend each other, they also derive great pleasure from the benefits of coexistence and said it is important that the good relations between the two countries are maintained at all times. He expressed the hope that the next two days will be mutually beneficial to the two countries and further strengthen the already strong bond between Ghana and Nigeria.
The Nigerian Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila agreed with his Ghanaian Counterpart on the good relations between the two countries and hoped that at the end of his two day visit, a good resolution will be found to the issues confronting the two countries, bearing in mind, the national interests of the individual countries.
Meanwhile, Mr Gbajabiamila told Nigerian media that the main topic of discussion would be issues affecting Nigerians in Ghana.
The information ministers for both countries had spoken about the matter with Nigeria’s Lai Mohammed accusing Ghana of deporting Nigerians and closing shops owned by Nigerian citizens.
In his response, Ghana’s Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the Nigerians who were deported were involved in criminal activities, and that all foreign shop owners, whose documentation were not in order, had their premises closed.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained in recent months following trade tensions and the demolition of the Nigerian diplomatic building in Accra.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com
