A DIPLOMATIC row may soon arise between Nigeria and Ghana as the
country is said to be denying Nigerians entry over alleged fake yellow
fever cards.
Some Nigerian travellers to Accra told The Guardian that they were recently subjected to inhuman treatment at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, over yellow fever vaccination.
The Guardian learnt that all the yellow fever cards from Nigeria were presumed fake and international passports of such Nigerians seized and the Ghanaian immigration officials insisting that the affected persons get Ghana’s yellow fever cards at the cost of N2,000 before their documents could be released to them.
According to one of the affected Nigerians, “on June 29, 2012, there were two last flights by Aero and Arik that landed almost simultaneously at about 6.10 p.m. Nigerian time. Immediately, the health officials mounted an unconventional roadblock on the way to the immigration points. Every vaccination card issued in Nigeria was presumed fake. We were all asked to move to a side after all our international passports have been seized.
“New vaccination cards were issued to us after injecting us with the vaccine and a fee of N2, 000 charged for that which was paid in Nigerian currency. Charging for this in naira is curious. A pregnant woman was issued only with a card when she told them she is pregnant but after parting with N2, 000,” he added.
He said attention was not paid to new international arrivals consisting of whites and blacks on board, stressing that on inquiry, “the health officials claimed ignorance of such arrivals, disclosing that they were only after Nigerians.
“We were held for hours that day. To confirm extortion of money from Nigerians, why should they collect money from a pregnant woman who was not jabbed an injection? Why should we be paying in Naira and why should every yellow fever card issued in Nigeria be presumed fake? Do the health officials of foreign countries have the powers to seize the passports of travellers/visitors to their countries? he queried.
Penultimate week, Nigerian businessmen operating in Ghana complained to the Federal Government to come to their rescue as Ghanaian authorities had started closing their shops for allegedly operating illegally.
The Nigerian traders said their shops were closed because they were said not to comply with the government policy, which requires them to have an initial capital of $300,000 and employ 10 Ghanaians before they can start any business in Ghana regardless of the size of the enterprise.
A diplomat, who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity, said the Federal Government was already studying the ugly situation, not only in Ghana but around the world, just as he said that the Nigerian authority had made it known that it would provide protection for her law-abiding citizens around the globe.
According to the source, “the Federal Government has reached out to its Ghanaian counterpart and are discussing on ways to end the alleged hostilities.”
Soource: The Guardian
Some Nigerian travellers to Accra told The Guardian that they were recently subjected to inhuman treatment at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, over yellow fever vaccination.
The Guardian learnt that all the yellow fever cards from Nigeria were presumed fake and international passports of such Nigerians seized and the Ghanaian immigration officials insisting that the affected persons get Ghana’s yellow fever cards at the cost of N2,000 before their documents could be released to them.
According to one of the affected Nigerians, “on June 29, 2012, there were two last flights by Aero and Arik that landed almost simultaneously at about 6.10 p.m. Nigerian time. Immediately, the health officials mounted an unconventional roadblock on the way to the immigration points. Every vaccination card issued in Nigeria was presumed fake. We were all asked to move to a side after all our international passports have been seized.
“New vaccination cards were issued to us after injecting us with the vaccine and a fee of N2, 000 charged for that which was paid in Nigerian currency. Charging for this in naira is curious. A pregnant woman was issued only with a card when she told them she is pregnant but after parting with N2, 000,” he added.
He said attention was not paid to new international arrivals consisting of whites and blacks on board, stressing that on inquiry, “the health officials claimed ignorance of such arrivals, disclosing that they were only after Nigerians.
“We were held for hours that day. To confirm extortion of money from Nigerians, why should they collect money from a pregnant woman who was not jabbed an injection? Why should we be paying in Naira and why should every yellow fever card issued in Nigeria be presumed fake? Do the health officials of foreign countries have the powers to seize the passports of travellers/visitors to their countries? he queried.
Penultimate week, Nigerian businessmen operating in Ghana complained to the Federal Government to come to their rescue as Ghanaian authorities had started closing their shops for allegedly operating illegally.
The Nigerian traders said their shops were closed because they were said not to comply with the government policy, which requires them to have an initial capital of $300,000 and employ 10 Ghanaians before they can start any business in Ghana regardless of the size of the enterprise.
A diplomat, who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity, said the Federal Government was already studying the ugly situation, not only in Ghana but around the world, just as he said that the Nigerian authority had made it known that it would provide protection for her law-abiding citizens around the globe.
According to the source, “the Federal Government has reached out to its Ghanaian counterpart and are discussing on ways to end the alleged hostilities.”
Soource: The Guardian
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