BREAKING!! Bianca Ojukwu Intervenes in "Nigerians Must Go" Protests in Ghana, As President Mahama Assures Safety of Nigerians Amid Rising Tensions

In the wake of street protests in Accra, Ghana, calling for Nigerians to leave the country over alleged involvement in criminal activities, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has moved to calm tensions, assuring the Nigerian government of the safety and dignity of Nigerians and their properties in Ghana.

President Mahama made this reassurance during a high-level diplomatic meeting with Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who visited Ghana following rising concerns over xenophobic undertones in the recent protests.

“Convey to my brother, President Bola Tinubu, and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Ghanaians are peace-loving and hospitable people,” Mahama stated. “We share a historic bond with Nigeria. 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.”

The Ghanaian leader condemned all forms of violence, reaffirming that both nations are strategic pillars of ECOWAS and essential to promoting regional peace and integration.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, responding to the protests that accused Nigerians of crimes such as kidnapping and prostitution, described her meeting with President Mahama as “cordial and fruitful.” She stressed the importance of continued dialogue, mutual respect, and not allowing misinformation or isolated incidents to derail decades of shared friendship.

“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,” she said.

In response to viral videos of the protests, the Federal Government of Nigeria had earlier urged calm. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), emphasized that while bad elements exist in every society, Nigerians in Ghana should not be stereotyped or targeted.

“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 said, urging against retaliation and reiterating that Ghana and Nigeria are like “Siamese twins” who must continue to coexist peacefully.

Similarly, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, noted that the Nigerian government is exploring diplomatic avenues to ensure the safety and rights of its citizens.

The protests in Ghana, sparked by rising insecurity and social tensions, saw demonstrators carrying placards reading “End Kidnapping,” “End Fraud,” and “Our Health at Stake Due to Mass Prostitution,” many of which pointed fingers at Nigerians.

These developments have revived memories of past immigration disputes between the two West African nations — notably Ghana’s 1969 expulsion of undocumented foreigners under Prime Minister Kofi Busia and Nigeria’s 1983 mass deportation of Ghanaians, known as the “Ghana Must Go” saga.

Despite these historical rifts, leaders like President Jerry Rawlings and President Ibrahim Babangida worked to rebuild bilateral trust in the late 1980s, with both nations committing to ECOWAS principles, including the free movement of persons.

In recent years, diplomatic friction re-emerged over business regulations targeting Nigerian traders in Ghana. However, neither country severed diplomatic ties, recognizing the need for regional cooperation.

Many Nigerians have hailed the latest diplomatic initiative as timely and necessary, warning that escalated tensions could threaten not only bilateral ties but the broader unity of West Africa.

The Federal Government maintains that peaceful engagement and regional solidarity remain its top priorities.