Abuja, September 24, 2018 (AltAfrica)-The National Association of Nigerian Traders on Monday stormed the ECOWAS secretariat located in Abuja to protest the alleged closure of shops belonging to Nigerians in Ghana.

The protest which began at 9:30am partially paralysed activities at the ECOWAS Secretariat.

The protesters marched through the streets of Yakubu Gowon way in Asokoro, a development that led to traffic gridlock along the Asokoro axis.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “We need ECOWAS intervention,” “Ghana re-open Nigeria’s shops now,” “ECOWAS, the situation in Ghana is totally unacceptable,” “Ghana wants AFCTA secretariat but clamps on African traders,” among others.

Speaking during the protest, the President, NANT, Barrister Ken Ukaoha, said that the association is protesting the alleged victimisation of Nigerian businessmen in Ghana.

He said that the development has got so bad that a law was recently passed by the Ghanaian parliament seeking to make the business environment hostile to foreign investors.

He since Ghana is a signatory to the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of goods and services, there is a need for the commission to caution the government of Ghana.

He said the association is giving the commission a one week ultimatum to intervene in the matter, adding that if nothing was done, the association would deploy all its members to occupy the premises of ECOWAS.