Government has condemned the recent attacks by a group of Ghanaian youth who forcibly shut down shops owned and operated by Nigerians at the Suame Magazine in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

According to Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, if any Nigerian violates the laws, the appropriate authorities would have to deal with them.

He added that it was not right for any Ghanaian to take the law into their own hands and assault them.

On Tuesday, shops – about 20 of them - belonging to Nigerian traders were allegedly shut down by Ghanaians, who vowed to evict foreigners from the market in a bid to compel authorities to implement laws concerning retail trading in the country.
The Ghanaian traders want their Nigerian counterparts out of the spare parts-hub – Ghana’s largest - for selling inferior products and illegally dealing in retail business which is the preserve of Ghanaians.

But Kojo Oppong Nkrumah  in an interview on Accra FM  condemned the act, saying it was wrong for Ghanaians to take the law into their own hands.

"If someone has violated the law, for instance, you work without a fire licence or permit, then the law will deal with you," he said.

"Let me stress that the Ministry of Trade and the Ghana Immigration Service are dealing with the situation."

The Nigerian traders say they have been wrongfully targeted in recent incidences of kidnappings in Ghana and have been prevented from going about their duties since Thursday.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Chief Kizito Obiora, said they have been under attack since last week Thursday, June 13, 2019.

The Nigerian retailers said their members are living in fear following the incessant attacks on them.

Security has been beefed at Suame Magazine in the Ashanti region following a feud between Ghanaian and Nigerian spare part dealers.

Ashanti regional police PRO, ASP Godwin Ahianyo, in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story said the Command received complaints of abuse from the Nigerian traders and had begun investigations into it before Tuesday’s incident.