Tensions escalated in Accra and other regions of Ghana on Tuesday as protest groups took to the streets, calling for the immediate expulsion of Nigerians living in the country.
Demonstrators cite alleged involvement of Nigerians in crime, including ritual killings, prostitution and economic predation, as justification for their demands.
Video footage shared widely on social media showed demonstrators carrying placards bearing messages such as “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals”, “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution”, and “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop”. Some signs accused Nigerians of being responsible for missing children and rising violence in local communities.
A female protester, filmed amidst the crowd, declared: “Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow. Nigerians must go.”
Another participant, referring to Nigerians of the Igbo ethnic group, alleged: “They even have an Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country.”
Protesters even displayed an image of a man purportedly killed by a Nigerian in Accra, further inflaming public sentiment. As of now, there is no independent verification of the alleged homicide or other claims raised during the protests.
The protesters’ grievances extend beyond crime, touching on economic resentment. Some accused Nigerian nationals of monopolising market space and land, with one individual claiming the imposition of unauthorised leadership structures within communities.
The protest has stirred concerns of a diplomatic rift between Ghana and Nigeria.
Memories of the 1983 “Ghana Must Go” expulsion linger: then‑President Shehu Shagari ordered the removal of approximately two million undocumented migrants, mostly Ghanaians, citing economic strain.
He remarked at the time: “If you break a law, then you have to pay for it. Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever.”
In response to the unfolding crisis, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has urged restraint and condemned the broad-brush demonisation of Nigerians.
NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri‑Erewa said through a statement: “Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves, while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions.”
She added: “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.”
Dabiri‑Erewa further noted that no credible evidence supports claims of widespread destruction of Nigerian‐owned businesses in Ghana, warning against misinformation that could incite reprisals .
NiDCOM confirmed that diplomatic channels are engaged to de-escalate tensions.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, is reportedly in contact with Ghanaian authorities, while both countries’ high commissions are working to contain the situation.
At time of writing, the Ghanaian government had not issued an official statement clarifying its position or plans regarding the protest or the status of Nigerians residing in Ghana.
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