Featured, Politics
By Anthony Isibor
PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has assured President Bola Tinubu of the safety of Nigerians and their property in Ghana.
The Ghanaian leader, who condemned any form of violence or xenophobia during his meeting with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu in Ghana, assured the Nigerian government that Ghanaians are peace-loving and that the government was committed to the safety and dignity of all legal residents within its borders.
“Convey to my brother, President Bola Tinubu, and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Ghanaians are peace-loving and hospitable people,” President Mahama said.
“We share a historic bond with Nigeria. We have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations through the years. Our Government is committed to protecting the lives and properties of all who reside in our country, and we continue to urge all residents to be law-abiding.”
President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s commitment to peace and order, noting that Nigeria and Ghana are both strategic pillars of ECOWAS and share responsibilities for regional peace and integration. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu was in Ghana in respect of the street protests in Ghana, requesting Nigerians living in Ghana to leave the country, acusing them of engaging in criminal activities such as kidnapping and prostitution.
In addition, the Federal Government had earlier called for calm following the online circulation of videos of the protests in Accra, Ghana.
In a statement, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, appealed to Nigerians in Ghana not to retaliate or resort to violence.
“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves, while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
“Ghana and Nigeria are like Siamese twins. They are brothers and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration, should continue to live in peace like brothers,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to disregard false claims of attacks on Nigerian businesses, saying that there was no verified evidence to support the rumours.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, had assured that Nigeria would resolve the issue diplomatically: “We will engage them diplomatically.”
It will be recalled that there were some organised protests last week in Ghana, following a string of criminal incidents in Ghana that the locals blamed on foreign nationals, especially Nigerians.
The protesters in Accra were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as “End Kidnapping,” “End Fraud,” and “Our Health at Stake Due to Mass Prostitution,” suggesting that Nigerians were to blame for rising insecurity and moral decay in Ghana.
However, Nigeria and Ghana have a history of diplomatic tensions over immigration issues.
According to reports, in 1969, the Ghanaian Government under Prime Minister Kofi Busia expelled about 140,000 undocumented foreigners, including Nigerians under the Aliens Compliance Order. In a twist of history, Nigeria expelled more than 2 million immigrants in 1983, including Ghanaians, in what was known as “Ghana Must Go” saga.
It was on record that President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana and President Ibrahim Babangida in the late 1980s helped rebuild trust, established trade and cultural cooperation and commit both nations to the ideals of ECOWAS, including the free movement of people.
However, immigration tensions resurfaced in the 2020s when Ghanaian authorities enforced business regulations against Nigerian traders, which Abuja interpreted as targeted discrimination. Both countries traded accusations, though they stopped short of severing diplomatic ties.. However speaking on her meeting with President Mahama of Ghana, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the meeting as “cordial and fruitful,” stressing the importance of continued dialogue and mutual respect.
“This encounter reaffirms the shared destiny of Nigeria and Ghana. We must never allow isolated incidents or misinformation to undermine the brotherhood our nations have nurtured over decades.”
Many Nigerians have described the diplomatic mission by the minister as timely in order to avoid its escalation. They believe that it will serve as a reminder to both nations and the region at large that unity, not division, is key to progress.
As calm slowly returns, all eyes remain on both governments to translate words into actions that preserve peace, protect lives, and prevent history from repeating itself.
A.I
Aug. 1, 2025
Tags: Abike Dabiri-Erewa Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu Kimiebi Ebienfa President Bola Ahmed Tinubu President John Dramani Mahama