As Nigeria's border closure bites other neighbouring African countries, Ghana has again begged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider its decision.
Daily Sun reports that Charles Owiredu, Ghanaian deputy minister of foreign affairs, made the plea when he met with Ambassador Zubairu Dada in charge of foreign affairs in Nigeria.
At the meeting, the Ghanaian and Nigerian officials discussed strategies to ease the challenges faced by Ghana over Nigeria's border closure.
The Ghanaian minister said the meeting was a follow up on the previous one held with Nigeria as he further argued that the policy by Buhari's government went against the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol of free movement of goods.
The Nigerian minister of state told the Ghanaian delegation that their country was not the target of the border closure.
He explained that the decision of the federal government to close the borders was to discourage the movement of illicit goods into the country. He also said the government's action was temporary and the government took the decision to tackle the nation's insecurity.
“The meeting agreed that in order to address the concerns raised by the Republic of Ghana, a census of vehicles coming into Nigeria from Ghana will be conducted to ascertain facts and collectively device means of giving them access into the country,” a statement from Dada's office said.
The Ghanaian president described the action of Nigeria as a big blow to regional integration in West Africa, adding that it could negatively affect the regional integration agenda.
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