Nigerians resident in Ghana were shocked early this year, when the Ghanaian government, through its Public Relations Officer on National Identification Authority (NIA), Mrs Bertha Dzeble, announced that all foreign nationals, including ECOWAS member country citizens who have lived in Ghana for a total of 90 days or more in a given year are required by law to register for the Non-citizen Ghana card at the cost of $120 (N19,000).

The Act, which is enshrined under the Foreigners Identification Management System (FIMS), in pursuance of Authority’s mandate under the NIA Act, 2006 (Act 707), the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) and the National Identity Regulations, 2012, made it compulsory that the non-citizen Ghana card is the mandatory form of identification to be used in all transactions which includes applying for or renewing residence permits, opening or running a bank account etc.

However, this development has not, over the months, gone down well with majority of the citizens of ECOWAS member states resident in Ghana, and those proposing to visit Ghana for tourism or business transactions.

Some of the people that the Nigerian Tribune spoke with argued that even though Ghana is a sovereign country, which gave the legislators the right to make such laws, it has further showed the lip service being paid to complying with the aims and objectives of ECOWAS, by asking the ECOWAS member country citizens to pay the same amount that non-African citizens are paying for the foreigners identification card.

Another category of citizens from ECOWAS member countries, who made their opinion known, stated that the development, depicts Ghana as an economically challenged country, trying to raise money from every nook and cranny, without any concern about what backlash this could cause to her own citizens in other ECOWAS countries that their citizens find themselves, as diplomacy recognises reciprocity of treatment.

According to information made available on the Ghana NIA website, the Foreigners Identification Card is the only form of identification of persons recognised by the Ghanaian government for any official transaction, against what used to be the norm, ECOWAS passports was the only document to be used by the ECOWAS charter which serves several purposes, part of which was the identification and pass to other ECOWAS member States.

Investigation into the reaction of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan, to the development was quite revealing. He said “I know Nigerians here usually pay for Resident Permit, which I expect would have been the end of it. But suddenly, the Ghanaian government is now introducing what they call Foreigners Identification Card, done by the National Registration Agency that non-Ghanaians, and it does not exclude those who have Resident Permit, will pay US120 dollars for such registration.”

When asked if Ghanaians in Nigeria were being asked to pay same for FIC, he rued: “I know that Ghanaians in Nigeria don’t pay such. So I met with the Foreign Minister, Hannah Tetteh and she explained to me that it was not her ministry, but that she would get back to me officially.

“But that notwithstanding, on the 30th of August, I wrote a dispatch to the Nigerian Foreign Minister explaining that this was not levied Ghanaians in Nigeria. So to balance the equation, Ghanaians in Nigeria should be made to pay that fee; that is where we left it. I don’t see why we should be paying and they should not pay. So that’s what I have discussed with my colleagues and that’s what we have circulated and also discussed within the ambience of our foreign policy.

“We are waiting for the reply to the dispatch to our Foreign Minister. I am expecting the Nigerian government at that level back home in Nigeria to make a pronouncement on that. Since Nigerians are going to be paying that US$120, Ghanaians in Nigeria should pay the same”, the Ambassador said.

Nigerian Tribune also engaged some Nigerians resident in Ghana, to know whether Ghana was being fair to ECOWAS member countries, and if the Federal Government of Nigeria should replicate same policy.

Oludare Ogunlana, President, Global Alternative Agenda said, “First, we have to understand the fact that the Ghanaian authority has the right to enforce any policy that would advance the development of its country. So, the issue of foreigners’ identification card may be one of those policies, targeting all the foreigners and not only Nigerians resident in Ghana.

Therefore, I will not want our people to see the issue as if the policy is meant to punish or extort Nigerians living in Ghana. The population of Indians living in Ghana is more than that of Nigerians; they pay more money for resident permit than other ECOWAS nationals.

“My own take would have been that the Ghanaian government should have reduced the price for the ECOWAS citizens living in Ghana. For instance, you have to pay for the resident/work permit and also pay for this mandatory FIC. I think the Ghanaian government should look into this.

“I don’t think it is appropriate for the Nigerian government to engage the Ghanaian government on this issue of FIC because it is not a policy that targets only Nigerians but all foreigners living in Ghana. This is not about Nigerians alone. However, the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana should make a case for the Nigerian students studying here in Ghana. I think we have the highest number of students here in Ghana and this FIC creates additional financial burden for them.

“Meanwhile, the Nigerian government also has the right to replicate the policy but not necessarily on the same issue. For instance, on visa procurement, Nigerian government charges approximately what the US government will charge a Nigerian for American visa.

“Also, when the British government came with the idea of £3,000 bound for the first time visitor to the UK; the Nigerian government took it upon herself to engage the UK government on the issue and today, the policy has been cancelled. They took this initiative because the policy was directed to only Nigerians and not the entire foreigners willing to visit the UK. I hope you will be able to spot the difference.

Cookie Iwuoha, publisher of Nigerian Eye in Ghana commented that “The FIC is not really a bad initiative, after all, Ghanaians have the national identification card and I am not sure all Ghanaians have one. On the other hand, I see it as uncalled for, truly uncalled for and discriminatory. I think it should only be mandatory for individuals that do not have their international passports because my passport identifies me as a foreigner and besides, there is a resident permit issued by Ghanaian authorities to anyone who wishes to reside in Ghana and work permit.

As regards reciprocating the ‘gesture’, he said, “I don’t see the need for Nigerian government to impose such an ordeal on Ghanaians in Nigeria, but from the way it is being forced on Nigerians here, if our government back home commences theirs at this moment, it can trigger tension between the two nations, but on the other hand, I think Nigerian government should think of other means of handling the same issue in Nigeria”.

Mrs Cartherine Emmanuel Onwioduokit, the convener of Family Renaissance International, in her submission, said that, “every nation belongs to the committee of nations and there are certain foreign policy frameworks that govern the bilateral relationships of nations within each block. When talking about Ghana and Nigeria, both countries are ECOWAS countries; and there are also policies and privileges that both are expected to enjoy. So, a foreigner in Ghana must first be ascertained by the block he/she belongs to, and the foreign, bilateral and diplomatic ties that exist between them. This would then determine what applies to each.”

She stated further that “If the nation of Ghana has come up with a certain amount of money, say $120 in this instance that all foreigners are to pay for the FIC, then there has to be a referral to the status of ECOWAS citizens and what applies to their taking residence in fellow ECOWAS states.”

Citing examples from European Union member states: “When they come up with foreign policies, I believe that some of those policies do not apply to the members of the states or union as the case may be.

“Politically, and for the sake of our bilateral relations, I strongly believe that different policy framework that guides each member of the different member states should be adhered to strictly. So I would suggest that both governments and those of other member states should revisit whatever document carries the rights and privileges of citizens of member states and use that as the modus operandi in the interest of the West African sub region.

“Agreed, there are issues that arise from the coalition, but that can be addressed through proper and consistent public awareness and adherence to the laws covering the operation of all the citizenry within the states.

“I would therefore suggest that the diplomatic bodies go back and abide by whatever the ECOWAS member state policies advocates. In a situation where there is nothing to that effect, then this becomes the wakeup call that arrests the attention of the different states in the sub- region to come together and agree on policies that will make for the peaceful co-existence that has existed between Ghana, Nigeria and other members of the ECOWAS sub region living here in Ghanaian,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ghana government has refuted the allegations that the exercise is meant to discriminate against foreigners, saying the exercise meant to enable the government to create a database is of all individuals in the country in order to ensure good planning, good governance, e-government services and the security and the integrity of the country.

However, diplomats, and dual citizens are not required to register for the FIC, including refugees who hold a valid UNHCR card, while Ghanaians who are married to Ghanaians who have not either registered or naturalised to become a citizen of Ghana, must also register for the Non-citizen Ghanaian card.