Ablakwa Sounds Alarm at ECOWAS Over Treatment of Ghanaian Investors in Nigeria
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, has officially asked ECOWAS to step in and look into claims that Ghanaian-owned companies in Nigeria are facing harassment and unfair treatment, especially Jonah Capital PLC, which belongs to businessman Sir Sam Jonah. The complaint was made during the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja, with Ghana urging the regional body to act quickly to stop the matter from turning into a broader trade dispute between the two countries. The concerns come from an ownership disagreement that has lasted almost a year over the high-value River Park Estate, where Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, is accused of unlawfully taking control of and reallocating shares in JonahCapital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, even though the case is still before the courts and despite instructions from Nigeria’s Attorney General. It is alleged that these actions involved changing company ownership records, removing directors and deleting official filings, raising serious questions about fairness, legal process and abuse of regulatory power. ECOWAS has acknowledged Ghana’s complaint and asked for more details, while Nigeria’s Trade Minister has so far made no public comment, increasing fears that the issue could grow into a major economic and diplomatic disagreement between the two neighbouring countries.
