Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations, Senator Aniekan Bassey, has condemned the recent anti-Nigerian protest in Ghana, described it as “deeply disturbing and contrary to the spirit of African brotherhood.”
The Senator was reacting to a viral video making the rounds on social media, which showed some Ghanaians staging a protest and demanding the expulsion of Nigerians from their country over alleged misconduct and behaviour deemed inconsistent with Ghanaian societal norms.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Senator Bassey, who is also a member of the 6th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, urged both Nigeria and Ghana to uphold their long-standing bilateral relationship built on mutual respect, friendship, and regional cooperation.
“We must keep the flame of brotherhood alive. Nigeria and Ghana, as key members of ECOWAS, should be at the forefront of promoting peace, unity, and regional integration as enshrined in the ECOWAS Charter,” he said.
He commended the timely interventions of the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, for handling the situation with diplomacy and tact.
Senator Bassey also acknowledged the joint efforts of the Nigerian and Ghanaian High Commissioners in working swiftly to ease tensions and prevent any further escalation.
While reassuring Nigerians living in Ghana, he noted that both governments are in active communication and have taken proactive steps to ensure the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens.
“We stand with every law-abiding Nigerian in Ghana and urge calm as the appropriate diplomatic channels are being effectively explored,” the Senator added.
He called on Nigerians in Ghana to continue to be peaceful and law-abiding, and to refrain from making inciteful statements, while encouraging them to promote peaceful coexistence and harmony in their host country.
