Ghanaians attack Nigerian spare parts dealers as police intervenes

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has deployed personnel to the Suame Magazine Industrial Enclave in Kumasi to provide protection for Nigerian spare parts dealers who operate in the area.

This follows the closure of shops operated by Nigerians after indigenous Ghanaian spare parts dealers in the enclave protested against the continuous operation of foreigners in the retail trade.

About 50 shops belonging to Nigerian spare parts dealers were locked up by agitated Ghanaians who said they would not sit down for foreigners to flout the laws governing retail marketing in Ghana.

But, after separate meetings with the Nigerian traders and the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) in Kumasi on Monday and yesterday, the Ashanti Regional Police Command assured the Nigerians that the police would give them protection.

The Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Godwin Ahianyo, asked the Nigerians to reopen their shops for business today, assuring them that “there is no cause for alarm”.

He said plainclothes policemen were on the ground to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of the business community.

ASP Ahianyo cautioned members of GUTA against taking the law into their own hands.

He said there was a ministerial task force in charge of the matter and that any grievances should be channeled to it for redress.

According to him, all residents of the region, irrespective of their nationality, “are to be protected by the police and we will ensure that they are not harmed and their properties also protected”.

He said there was an agreement between the two parties that the Nigerians should go back to their shops and do their business.