Saraki tells Ghanaian Parliament to review residency fee on Nigerians

The Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has appealed to the Ghanaian Parliament to review the $120 Residency Fee imposed on Nigerians living in Ghana.

He made the appeal Wednesday when he granted audience to the visiting Ghanaian parliamentarians that paid a courtesy visit to him at the National Assembly, Abuja

The Senate President while responding to comments by the leader of the Ghanaian Parliamentary delegation, Hon. Alfred Agbesi, said: “I am appealing to you my colleagues in the parliament in Ghana on the recent laws passed on Nigerians to pay a residency fee of $120. I am appealing that you review this law and take a second look at it again as things are hard. This recession is biting hard”.

Ghana early this year imposed a fee of $120 on Nigerians and other immigrants that stayed in the country for a total of 90 days or more in a given year. They are also 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.

Earlier, leader of the delegation, Alfred Agbesi who is the Deputy Leader of the Ghanaian Parliament said that they were in Nigeria to seek the help of NILS in legislative drafting for incoming lawmakers and how it would help in the performance of their duties.

Agbesi described NILS as one of the main pillars to advance democracy in Ghana while pledging to enhance and improve bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Ghana.