Ghana has elevated concerns about the treatment of its businesses in Nigeria to the ECOWAS level, warning that unresolved regulatory and ownership disputes could undermine investor confidence and strain regional economic relations.
At the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers held in Abuja from December 10 to 12, 2025, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally petitioned the regional bloc to investigate what it described as alleged governmental interference affecting Ghanaian-owned companies operating in Nigeria.
Central to the petition is Jonah Capital PLC, a real estate firm owned by Sir Samuel Jonah, which has been embroiled in a protracted dispute over the River Park Estate in Abuja. Ghana presented the petition on behalf of the company, urging ECOWAS to intervene early to prevent the matter from escalating into a wider cross-border trade or investment dispute.
The issue, which has persisted for over a year, reportedly involves questions surrounding the reassignment of shares between Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited. The matter has since expanded beyond corporate disagreements, drawing the attention of Nigeria’s National Assembly and becoming subject to judicial proceedings. Concerns have been raised about adherence to due process and the application of regulatory procedures.
The ECOWAS Council of Ministers acknowledged Ghana’s concerns and requested additional information to enable further consideration of the matter.
However, the absence of a public response from Nigeria’s Minister of Trade has heightened unease among investors and members of the foreign business community, who are closely monitoring developments.
Observers say Nigeria’s handling of the case could prove decisive—either reinforcing confidence in ECOWAS-led dispute resolution mechanisms or allowing the issue to evolve into a broader economic and diplomatic challenge between two of West Africa’s largest economies.
