An assurance has been given to Nigerians by Ghana’s President John Mahama that there is nothing to be feared in Ghana, despite a recent viral protest that had targeted Nigerian nationals. On Friday, the commitment of Ghana to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols, particularly the free movement of persons and goods across the region, was reaffirmed in a statement released by Mahama.
This assurance was given by him while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s special envoy, led by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was being received at the Presidential Palace in Accra. President Tinubu was told not to lose sleep over the recent protests because Nigeria and Ghana are considered brothers with a shared history, and nothing would be allowed to come between them. It was added that no room for xenophobia existed in Ghana.
It was clarified that the protest was minor and involved fewer than 50 individuals, and that an old video that had been posted by a Nigerian resident in Ghana over a decade ago was what had stirred unnecessary tension. The situation had been promptly and effectively managed, and the Nigerian envoy was assured of the safety of Nigerian citizens, their businesses, and properties in Ghana.
On her part, appreciation was expressed by Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu for the Ghanaian president’s warm hospitality. The mission of the special envoy was explained as being to calm tensions following the spread of the viral video and ensure the safety of Nigerians living in Ghana. Plans were also highlighted for the establishment of a permanent Nigeria-Ghana Joint Commission to strengthen bilateral relations and address youth migration concerns. It was stated that youth are being encouraged to stay in Nigeria, and if migration is a necessity, they should be good ambassadors.
