Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has called for calm and constructive engagement in response to recent online agitation by some Ghanaians demanding the deportation of Nigerians.
Speaking during a joint press conference with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, in Accra on Wednesday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized that there was no widespread hostility against Nigerians in Ghana, contrary to viral video portrayals.
In a statement released Thursday by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze, the Minister revealed that her visit was on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, who appointed her as a special envoy to assess the situation firsthand.
“We are here in the Republic of Ghana on a fact-finding mission as special envoy of President Bola Tinubu as a result of recent disturbances that have made the rounds in Nigeria,” she said.
“We are pleased to note that things are rather calm here. Since we arrived, I haven’t seen people burning tyres in the streets or carrying placards everywhere calling for Nigerians to be deported.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu attributed the calm to swift intervention by the Ghanaian government, noting that the disturbing online footage did not reflect the current reality.
She warned against the spread of misleading and inflammatory content capable of inciting unnecessary panic or diplomatic strain between the two West African nations.
Highlighting the historical and strategic relationship between Nigeria and Ghana, she stressed the need to institutionalise the Nigeria-Ghana Joint Commission to foster stronger bilateral ties and enhance citizen-to-citizen cooperation.
She also disclosed that her delegation had met with various Ghanaian government officials, local leaders, and stakeholders involved in the issue to ensure a peaceful resolution and ease tensions within the Nigerian community in Ghana.
In his remarks, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting all residents, both citizens and non-citizens.
He clarified that the alarming social media content did not accurately depict the situation on the ground and confirmed that he had personally engaged the Nigerian individual accused of attempting to “form a kingdom” in Ghana, noting that the claims had been misinterpreted.
Ablakwa acknowledged the complex diplomatic history between the two countries — referencing Ghana’s past Aliens Repatriation Order and Nigeria’s 1983 “Ghana Must Go” expulsion — and warned against repeating past mistakes.
“Regardless of our shared history, if these things are not managed well, it will take us back to certain dark occurrences in our history,” he cautioned.
Both ministers reiterated their countries’ commitment to regional unity, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.
