Some Ghanaians have taken to the streets to protest against Nigerians, accusing them of widespread involvement in prostitution and ritual killings within Ghana.
In a video widely shared on Tuesday, July 29, a large group of protesters was seen holding placards with messages like.
“Stop armed robbery and violent attacks,” “Our health is at risk because of mass prostitution,” “Who defends the rights and freedoms of Ghanaians?”
“Nigerians are kidnapping people for rituals,” and “Our children are disappearing because of Igbos,” among others.
The protesters also displayed a photo of a man reportedly killed by a Nigerian in the Accra area.
In the footage, a woman, believed to be in her mid 30s, demanded the expulsion of Nigerians, condemning their conduct in Ghana.
“Nigerians must leave. You cannot be in someone else’s country and behave recklessly. Nigerians must leave,” she shouted.
Another protester accused Nigerians of dominating key markets and participating in illegal activities.
“These Igbos are everywhere in the country, especially targeting our markets. Not just the Igbos, Nigerians are present in almost every village, yet our laws do not allow foreigners to run legitimate businesses. They are involved in all sorts of crimes here.
“They even have an Igbo king in Ghana. They have taken over our land. It’s only a matter of time before we reclaim control of our country,” he said.
This unrest has been compared to the 1983 ‘Ghana Must Go’ episode, when Nigeria’s then President Shehu Shagari ordered around two million undocumented immigrants mostly Ghanaians to leave Nigeria.
At that time, President Shagari stated,
“If they don’t leave, they should be arrested, tried, and sent back home. Illegal immigrants should not be given warnings under normal circumstances. If you break the law, you must face the consequences.”
That mass expulsion gave rise to the checkered bag known as ‘Ghana Must Go,’ which Ghanaians used to carry their belongings a symbol that later came to represent exclusion and discrimination.
So far, the Ghanaian government has not made any official comment about the current tensions or the calls for Nigerians, regardless of their status, to leave the country.
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