Some Ghanaians have taken to the streets to protest against the presence of Nigerians in their country, accusing them of engaging in illegal activities such as mass prostitution, ritual killings, and kidnapping.
In a viral video shared on Tuesday, large crowds of protesters were seen marching with placards displaying strong messages like:
- “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop,”
- “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution,”
- “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals,”
- “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,”
- “Who protects the rights and freedom of Ghanaians?”
The demonstration appeared to take place in Accra, Ghana’s capital, where the protesters also displayed a photo of a man they claimed was killed by a Nigerian.
One woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, was seen in the video shouting, “Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow.”
Another protester accused Nigerians, particularly the Igbo ethnic group, of taking over Ghana’s markets and disobeying local laws. “They even have an Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country,” he said angrily.
These protests have sparked fears of growing xenophobia, especially among Nigerians living in Ghana.
The situation has drawn comparisons to the 1983 incident in Nigeria known as “Ghana Must Go,” when the Nigerian government under President Shehu Shagari ordered about two million undocumented immigrants, including many Ghanaians, to leave the country. The deportation led to the popular use of the red-and-blue checkered bags now known as “Ghana Must Go.”
At the time, President Shagari defended the move, saying: “Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever. If you break a law, then you have to pay for it.”
So far, the Ghanaian government has not issued an official statement regarding the ongoing protests or the calls for Nigerians to leave.
As tensions rise, many observers are calling for calm, dialogue, and a fair approach that respects both Ghanaian laws and the rights of law-abiding immigrants.
