Ghana gets knocks over registration cost for Nigerians, others

The National Identity Register 280 (Act 750) provides for the registration of all Ghanaians and foreign nationals permanently resident in Ghana. Non-compliance with the directive could result in the deportation of the defaulting foreigner, the authority warned.The authority has justified the decision to register foreigners for a fee, giving instances of Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius, […]

The National Identity Register 280 (Act 750) provides for the registration of all Ghanaians and foreign nationals permanently resident in Ghana. Non-compliance with the directive could result in the deportation of the defaulting foreigner, the authority warned.
The authority has justified the decision to register foreigners for a fee, giving instances of Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, where similar laws were being implemented for non-nationals.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Ademola Seyi Onafowokan reacting to the requirement for compulsory registration for a fee by non-nationals debunked claims that Nigeria was discharging similar services at a cost to the beneficiaries.
“We also made our own enquiries. Do we charge this money in Nigeria too? And from what I gathered it is only when you lose that card that you are required to pay not ab initio.
“So we are talking to the Ghanaian authorities. I do not think Nigerians have started paying. Under ECOWAS protocol, I cannot find any provision for that. I think that at the high level-the ministerial level it might be discussed and then find a lasting solution,” he assured. A Nigerian, Bolaji Ayodele described the process as another calculated attempt by the Ghanaian government to extort foreigners.