Call for Presidential Intervention in Abuja Dispute

A group known as the Concerned Citizens of Ghana has called on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in what it described as the persistent harassment of Jonah Capital, a Ghanaian-owned company operating in Nigeria. The group's convener, Mr. Samuel A. Clark, made the appeal during a press conference in Accra, urging the President, the Chief of Staff, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to engage the Nigerian government to protect the company's investments and the interests of Ghanaian citizens working abroad.

According to the group, Jonah Capital has a history of legal operations in Nigeria that spans several years. While the company reportedly encountered challenges in 2025, Clark noted that high-level interventions by the Nigerian government, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, had previously managed to restore normalcy and allow operations to continue.

Jonah Capital has operated legally in Nigeria for several years and maintained normal operations until recent developments. Following intervention by the Nigerian government in 2025, calm was restored and the company resumed operations.

— Samuel A. Clark, Convener, Concerned Citizens of Ghana

Alleged Harassment at River Park Estate

The group alleged that fresh challenges emerged approximately three weeks ago when officials from Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), accompanied by armed security personnel, entered the company's flagship investment, River Park Estate in Abuja. Clark claimed that this operation resulted in the destruction of property and the intimidation of staff, residents, and customers.

He further stated that the dispute is currently before an international arbitration panel. The group raised concerns over the use of force by administrative authorities while the matter remains under judicial and arbitral consideration. Clark also alleged that there have been attempts to unlawfully alter the company's shareholding structure, noting that reported cases of assault and destruction at the estate have not yet been investigated by the relevant authorities.

Judicial Clearance and Diplomatic Reciprocity

Addressing the legal history of the dispute, Clark alleged that Nigeria's Attorney-General had previously reviewed allegations of forgery against officials of Jonah Capital and found no basis for prosecution. Following this review, the Attorney-General reportedly directed the withdrawal of the criminal case, which was struck out by a High Court in Abuja in January this year. Despite this court decision, the group claims the company has come under renewed pressure from different arms of the Nigerian government.

In his concluding remarks, Clark contrasted the current situation with the treatment of Nigerian businesses in Ghana. He noted that several Nigerian-owned banks and companies continue to operate freely within Ghana, repatriating profits without interference. He cited Ghana's handling of the 2020 demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra as evidence of Ghana's commitment to protecting foreign interests, urging for a similar standard of protection for Ghanaian entities in Nigeria.

At the time of this report, the allegations made by the Concerned Citizens of Ghana could not be independently verified, and there has been no immediate response from the Nigerian authorities or the FCTA regarding the claims.