COVID-19 TESTING: No deliberate Policy to embarrass Nigerians- Ghanaian Envoy

The Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria,Rashid Bawa has said his country had no intention to harass and embarrass Nigerian citizens coming into the country with regard to COVID-19 Testing Procedures.

The Ghanaian envoy was speaking when he visited Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa,
Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM in Abuja, against
the backdrop of alleged Maltreatment of a Nigerian who tested Negative
to COVID-19 in Dubai only to test positive on arrival in Ghana.

Mr Rashid Bawa pointed out that while the COVID-19 Polymerase Chain
Reaction (PCR) test was mandatory, Ghana will not maliciously produce
COVID-19 positive test results for visitors, especially Nigerians
visiting Ghana.

The Ghanaian envoy also expressed concern about the increasing number of
underaged Nigerian girls being traficked to Ghana , stressed that
everything should be done to prosecute the syndicate behind such
dastardly act.

The High Commissioner acknowledged that both countries in recent times
have experienced some challenges, despite the long bilateral
relationship between them.

One of such is the growing tension concerning Nigerian Traders in Ghana,
which according to the Ghanaian High Commissioner, a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) has been reached between the Ministers of Trade in
Ghana and Nigeria. Also, a Joint Task Force was set up to further
monitor the situation.

Mr Bawa further stated that both countries will stop at nothing to
fish out perpetrators of cybercrimes and syndicates trafficking Nigerian
female minors from Nigeria to Ghana, for prostitution.

He commended the work of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her due diligence
in projecting Nigerian Diasporas as an important factor towards
development in Nigeria and hopes that a similar Commission will be
replicated in his home country.

Receiving the Ambassador , the NiDCOM Chairman agreed with His
Excellency that though the COVID-19 Test is a necessary prerequisite for
visitors coming to Ghana, the Ghanaian authorities, on the other hand,
must ensure that visitors are treated with dignity, fairly and humanely.

On cybercrimes and trafficking, the NiDCOM CEO said that sister agencies
such as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons (NAPTIP) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
will partner with the Ghanaian Authorities to rid off the few fraudulent
Nigerians who are giving Nigerians in Ghana a bad name and causing
problems in the host country., while acknowledging the numerous
Nigerians in Ghana going about their duties with diligence.