President John Dramani Mahama has assured the Government and people of Nigeria that there are no plans to deport Nigerian nationals from Ghana, following widespread concern sparked by a viral video.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, President Mahama said fears of mass deportation were misplaced and described the situation as “a bit of a storm in a teacup.”
The Nigerian Minister conveyed the growing anxiety within Nigeria, referencing a viral video that triggered fears of mass deportation and attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana. She noted that the video had prompted emergency meetings in Nigeria’s National Assembly and calls by traditional leaders for their family members in Ghana to return home.
President Mahama, however, moved to de-escalate the situation, reaffirming Ghana’s adherence to the ECOWAS protocols on the free movement of people and goods, and its commitment to protecting the rights of all law-abiding foreign nationals.
“Ghana and Nigeria are like siblings of the same parents, and so our destinies are joined together,” President Mahama said. “We are members of ECOWAS, and we have the ECOWAS protocol that allows our citizens to travel freely between our countries.”
He further stated that although some isolated incidents involving criminal activity had occurred, such cases were being addressed through proper legal channels and not through any form of collective punishment or ethnic targeting.
“There is no directive or plan to deport Nigerian nationals. Foreigners who breach our laws are dealt with individually through legal procedures. There shall be no mass expulsion,” he emphasised.
President Mahama also clarified that the viral video at the centre of the controversy dates back to 2013 and involves an “Igbo king” who claimed to be acquiring land in Ghana for a traditional kingdom. He explained that such a claim was not only outdated but legally impossible under Ghanaian law, which regulates the formation of traditional councils and prohibits foreign entities from establishing kingdoms within the country.
Recalling historical incidents of mass deportations between the two countries in the 1960s and 1980s, the President said, “That is an unfortunate past that we want to put behind us. I believe that none of our two countries should ever again resort to mass deportations.”
Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu, for her part, thanked President Mahama for his reassurances and transparency. She acknowledged that the situation could have escalated, but lauded the Ghanaian leader for defusing tensions and reaffirming the long-standing bond between the two nations.
“On arriving in Accra, we expected tension, but what we found was calm. Your leadership has helped prevent what could have been a volatile situation,” she stated.
President Mahama reiterated his government’s openness to continued dialogue and cooperation with Nigeria, assuring that Ghana will continue to be a welcoming home to all peaceful and law-abiding residents.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
