ECOWAS Members Must Respect Protocols – Diaspora Leader

A former president of the Nigerian Union of Traders of Ghana, Chief Chukwuemeka Nnaji, has tasked member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on maintaining the regional body’s protocols.

“It is only when ECOWAS member states (countries) maintain its Protocol on free movement, establishment and association of its citizens within its borders then trade and relationship will flourish,” Nnaji said in Ubahu community near Enugu on Wednesday.

The diaspora leader told journalists that other regions or blocs had gone far in putting in place and holistically implementing protocols, programmes and policies that liberalise trade, exchange and relationship for the benefit of all.
According to him, citizens of ECOWAS member states should trade freely without unnecessary given an ECOWAS citizen trade commencement levy, which is not the usual tax/levy paid by aborigines of the state or country.

This, he said, remained discriminatory and unhealthy for the West Africa region since the ECOWAS Protocol had bound all together.

“Nigeria and Nigerians are part of the ECOWAS States and there is also an Act and Protocol that says that every member of ECOWAS states have the right of movement, right of establishment and right of residence.

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“These rights (or ECOWAS Protocol) should be complied with to its fullest. So, that all West Africans can trade among themselves, reside among themselves and move among themselves.

“Since, there is a Protocol that has made us to be one. So, I don’t see any reason why we should not come together, obey this Protocol and we have a very open business and trade among ourselves,” he said.

The Enugu-born Ghana-based businessman urged Presidents of ECOWAS member states to look into the issue and find a way to make the ECOWAS Protocol on right of movement, right of establishment and right of residence work out seamlessly.

“We also appeal to the new President of Ghana, His Excellency Dr John Mahama, to look into the issue in the interest of all,” he appealed.

Nnaji, who was the President of Nigerian Union of Traders of Ghana for eight years, said that Nigerians and Nigeria traders in Ghana are currently living harmoniously with their Ghanaian counterparts and Ghana traders.

“We appreciate God that when we had squabbles in Ghana years ago; the High Commission of Nigeria in Ghana, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment as well as Nigeria Diaspora Commission and the Government of Ghana resolved the issue amicably.

“As a leader, I found out that there was a need for communication among all traders in Ghana; based on this, I reached out to the President of Ghana Union of Traders and we started relating closely and calming all traders down,” he said.