A commercial dispute in Nigeria involving River Park Estate, a Ghanaian-owned real estate firm based in Abuja, is raising concerns among Ghana’s investment community and sparking calls for urgent diplomatic and stakeholder engagement to prevent potential strain on economic relations between Ghana and Nigeria.

River Park Estate, owned by prominent Ghanaian entrepreneur Dr Sam Jonah, is currently involved in litigation before a Nigerian court. However, allegations that actions have been taken against the company while the matter remains sub judice have triggered questions about due process and institutional conduct, increasing anxiety among investors.

Analyst Yaw Barima has called on the Government of Ghana to take proactive steps to protect the interests of Ghanaian businesses operating abroad.

“This moment calls for firm but constructive engagement by the Government of Ghana,” Barima said. “There is a responsibility to safeguard Ghanaian investments overseas where credible concerns about fairness and due process arise. This is not about confrontation, but about defending Ghana’s investment credibility.”

He noted that Ghana’s strong reputation for a stable legal and regulatory environment has enabled many Nigerian businesses to thrive in the country.

“Nigerian enterprises have prospered in Ghana because property rights are respected and contracts are enforced,” Barima said, adding that such goodwill should not be taken for granted.

Barima also urged Nigerian businesses operating in Ghana to actively advocate respect for judicial processes in Nigeria.

“They must not remain silent,” he said. “As key stakeholders, they are well placed to call for restraint and adherence to court procedures. Silence risks allowing perceptions of injustice to take root.”

According to him, failure to address the issue could have broader implications beyond the immediate dispute.

“Unchecked perceptions can shape public sentiment, influence regulatory attitudes and ultimately strain bilateral economic relations,” Barima warned. “Ghana and Nigeria are too economically interdependent to allow a single dispute to escalate.”

He stressed that the matter goes beyond one company, emphasising that investor confidence is closely linked to perceptions of fairness and justice.

“When justice appears selective, commerce becomes fragile,” Barima said. “How justice is administered domestically can have far-reaching consequences beyond national borders.”