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Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, wants the Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway to appear before the house to update them on measures being taken to address the closure of the Nigeria border to Ghanaian traders.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Thursday, Mr Ablakwa said, an update from the Minister is necessary.
“I don’t know if the Majority Leader is in a position to give us an update on the appearance of the Foreign Affairs Minister if she has a problem appearing before us. I want to know if this small window of extension to 23rd will create an opportunity for this outstanding matter to be addressed by the house.”
Responding to the request, Majority leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said he will ensure that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and the Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen are both summoned to the house for the update.
“I think this request is legitimate and we will certainly have to find space to for. I will touch base with her. In fact, I believe the two ministers should both appear before Parliament, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade and Industry. I will touch base with them and see if we can get them here by Monday.”
President Mahamudu Buhari in August ordered a partial closure of his country’s border with Benin to check the smuggling of cheap goods and in some cases weapons into Nigeria.
It was later shut down completely the following month. While President Buhari has stated that the target is not Ghana but Benin, traders from Ghana continue to struggle. Reports say, the closure has cost Ghana’s largest local beverage manufacturer, Kasapreko about $2 million.
Last month, Deputy Finance Minister, Kwaku Kwarteng said discussions were ongoing to make special arrangements that will cater for Ghanaians. According to him, a delegation from the Trade and Industry as well as Foreign Affairs Ministries from Ghana have already been to Nigeria to discuss the border closure.
source: myjoyonline.com