Ghana President Mahama Assures Nigeria No Place For Xenophobia

Ghanaian President John Mahama has assured Nigeria that there is no cause for concern regarding the safety of Nigerians living in Ghana, following the circulation of a viral video on social media which reportedly sparked protests and raised fears of xenophobia.

The assurance came during a meeting in Accra with a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, who was on a two-day official visit. President Mahama told her that Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, should “not lose sleep” over the incident, reiterating Ghana’s zero-tolerance policy towards xenophobia.

Mahama emphasized Ghana’s dedication to upholding the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols, particularly the free movement of people and goods within the region. He pledged that the safety, property, and businesses of Nigerians in Ghana would be protected.

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Bianca Ojukwu explained that the Nigerian delegation’s mission was to ease tensions following the social media unrest and to engage with the Nigerian community in Ghana. She urged Nigerians resident in Ghana to continue to respect and abide by Ghanaian laws.

Ojukwu further stated that the visit aimed to accelerate plans for establishing a permanent Nigeria–Ghana Joint Commission. This commission, she noted, would provide a platform to address shared regional concerns such as youth restiveness, migration, and trafficking, strengthening cooperation between the two West African nations.

The Ghanaian authorities, alongside the Nigerian government, continue to monitor developments closely to prevent any escalation, reaffirming their joint commitment to peaceful coexistence and regional integration.