The Parliament of Ghana, has set up a seven-man committee to fast-back the passing of Ghana-Nigeria Friendship Act.
Soeaker Kingsford Bagbin said the aim is to boost trade relations between both countries.
Bagbin said this while addressing members of the House of Representatives at plenary on Wednesday while on a state visit to Nigeria.
The speaker said given the nature of global emerging challenges which tend to be trans-territorial and trans-generational, there was a need for both nations to forge and bond together as a people.
“If we want to survive in peace and prosperity, we have no alternatives than to work together to find common solutions in this global village.
“Ghana and Nigeria are forerunners in this respect.
“Our history of oneness; kith and kin, and good relations, makes it imperative for us to make all necessary efforts at forging together in peace and harmony on all fronts of our socio-economic life.
“I am here just to help bring finality to the impasse. I pledge my commitment and that of the Parliament of Ghana, to contribute in every way possible to end the impasse between traders of our two sister countries,” he said.
Bagbin said the Committee will interact with their Nigerian counterparts toward passing the “Ghana-Nigeria Friendship Act”.
According to him, the Act will set up the proposed Ghana-Nigeria Business Council, which is intended to provide the legal and institutional framework to sustain the continued friendship and business interests of our people.
“I am particularly glad to indicate that they are with me on this trip and are ready to engage with their counterparts towards realizing the intentions expressed in the Act,’’ he said.
Bagbin said that despite all the commonalities, relations between both countries had not always been smooth linking it to the tongue and teeth metaphor.
He said that the events of 1969, when through the Aliens Compliance Order, Ghana expelled a large number of Nigerians and the 1983 Ghana must go, which saw Nigeria deporting about one million Ghanaians, are dark days in the history of both countries.
According to him, these actions were destructive to the socio-economic and fraternal relations between Ghana and Nigeria and stretched the fabric and strands of bonds beyond measure.
He commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, for pursuing parliamentary diplomacy with Ghana to find a lasting solution to the trade impasse between some Ghanaian and Nigerian traders in Ghana.
He explained that the impasse followed the full implementation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865), which occasioned the closure of shops belonging to some foreigners including some of our brothers and sisters from Nigeria.
Bagbin said Gbajabiamila’s visit to Ghana in September 2020 demonstrated a significant commitment on the part of the leadership of both legislatures to strengthen the bonds that exist between the countries.
Responding, Gbajabiamila commended Bagbin for visiting the house saying that the visit demonstrated that both parliaments are on the same page.
He said that the house would also inaugurate a committee that would work with their Ghanaian counterpart for smoothness of trade between both countries.
