WORRISOME TENSION BETWEEN NIGERIA AND GHANA

Is History repeating itself in the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana?

The Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the recent mass arrest and deportation of Nigerians living in Ghana as worrisome. She said this while addressing the news agency on the issue of over 723 Nigerians reported to have been deported since the beginning of the year. Nigeria and Ghana are members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional economic union that allows the free flow of people within the community. In essence, Nigerians do not require a visa to visit Ghana and vice versa. 

Image showing the member countries in ECOWAS

In recent times, President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has intervened in the tension. When in 2018, shops owned by Nigerian traders were locked in Ghana in an attempt to force them to relocate back home.

 

HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NIGERIA AND GHANA

This trend goes back many years, where in 1969 Ghana enacted an order that forcefully expelled hundreds of thousands of Nigerians from its country.(1) During the Nigerian Civil War 1967 – 1970, many Nigerians fled the country to Ghana for safety. Thereby, putting enormous stress on the Ghanian economy and society. This situation is similar to a household that has to put up with an extended family of 15 coming over to stay because of crisis at home. The feeling is very uncomfortable and straining on the financial livelihood of the family. 

Click to listen to the Witness History documentary by BBC

When Ghana celebrated their decision to evict Nigerians, their joy wasn’t long lived. Immediately after the Nigerian Civil War, Nigeria’s Oil Industry started to boom. This boom attracted many Ghanians seeking opportunities in the high paying industry. Nigerian’s not forgetting the events of 1969 decided to retaliate. In 1983, Nigeria’s President Shehu Shagari issued an executive order to expel immigrants without proper immigration documents. This order affected over 2 million people, mostly Ghanians. The occasion birthed the phrase, “Ghana Must Go” (2)  A phrase used to indicate a type of sack bag Ghanians used in packing their belongings while leaving Nigeria.

Different colours of the Ghana Must Go Bags

In 2016, Nigeria officially announced that its economy had entered a recession. Above all, this situation caused some of its citizens to migrate to the relatively stable and growing Ghanian economy. Recent developments show that Ghanians are getting fed up of Nigerians living within the country. Certainly, it wouldn’t be long before the Giant of Africa wakes up and commands another boom!

 

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