Ghanaians have continued protests against Nigerians, seeking their deportation. The protest started on Tuesday as a large number of citizens were seen in viral videos, with placards of various inscriptions, such as “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop”, “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution”, “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians”, “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals”, “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,” among others.

In one of the videos, a visually-impaired man shouted into a camera, urging President John Mahama to fulfil his “Ghana First” pledge. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who landed in the country on Tuesday evening, has continued her mission of affirming Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining robust relations with the Republic of Ghana and its citizens.

According to her, she is in Ghana to address the situation of Nigeria-Ghana citizens’ relations and meet with relevant stakeholders at both ends, including the President of Ghana, the country’s foreign minister, traditional rulers and Nigerians resident in the country to ensure that the life, property and businesses of Nigeria and Nigerians living in Ghana are safe and protected.

As part of the engagements for the minister, a few minutes after touching down at Kotoka Accra International Airport, Ghana, on Tuesday evening, she had a quick interface with the Inspector General of Police, Ghana, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who was on his way to London, United Kingdom.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu continued similar engagements yesterday with Ghanaian officials and leaders of the Nigerian community. She is expected back in Abuja today.

In its reaction, the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) has strongly condemned the protest targeting Nigerians, describing it as “deeply disturbing and contrary to the spirit of African brotherhood.”

The committee, in a statement, called on both Nigeria and Ghana to maintain the long-standing bond of friendship, mutual respect, and regional cooperation that binds the two nations.

The committee maintained that the two countries must keep the flame of brotherhood alive, reaffirming that 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.

The committee commended the swift intervention of the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, for their timely and diplomatic handling of the situation.

It also lauded the Nigerian and Ghanaian High Commissioners for working collaboratively to de-escalate tensions and restore calm.