President John Mahama of Ghana has assured that there is no place for xenophobia in his country, emphasized his administration’s strong commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols, particularly on the free movement of persons and goods across the region.
President Mahama gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Presidential Palace in Accra.
He urged the delegation to relay to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he should not be disturbed by recent protests allegedly targeting Nigerians living in Ghana, describing the incident as isolated and grossly exaggerated.
The Ghanaian leader clarified that the protests were triggered by the resurfacing of a decade-old video made by a Nigerian resident in Ghana. He said the circulation of the outdated content caused needless tension but confirmed that the situation had been swiftly addressed. According to him, the demonstrators were fewer than 50, and there was no threat to lives or property.
“Nigeria and Ghana are brothers with a shared history,” President Mahama said. “We will not allow anything to come between our countries.”
He further assured the Nigerian team that his government remains fully committed to the protection of Nigerian nationals, their businesses, and their properties within Ghana.
In her response, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu thanked President Mahama for the warm reception and expressed appreciation for the prompt action taken by Ghanaian authorities. She said the purpose of the visit was to help defuse tensions and convey the concerns of Nigerians over the situation.
“Our mission is to reaffirm the safety of Nigerians in Ghana and explore ways to deepen bilateral relations,” she said. “Back home, Nigerians have been worried about the situation. We are here to listen, to engage, and to propose solutions.”
She also proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-Ghana Joint Commission, a permanent bilateral platform to address shared issues, particularly the growing challenge of youth migration due to unemployment across West Africa.
“We are encouraging our youth to remain in Nigeria. And if they must migrate, they should go as responsible ambassadors of the country,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu added.
She noted that she would be engaging with the Nigerian community in Ghana to reinforce the importance of respecting local laws and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu was accompanied on the fact-finding mission by Ambassador Regina Ocheni, Director of the Africa Affairs Department; Ambassador Innocent Iwejuo, Director, Office of the Minister of State; and Mr. Ajuluchukwu Eze, Special Assistant (Administration) to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
