By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The recent strain in Nigeria-Ghana relations has brought to fore the need for deeper dialogue and regional co-operation especially among the West African nations. Interestingly, both countries do not only have a long history of being like Siamese twins, but have the strongest economies within the sub-region and have over the decades enjoyed stronger ties.
Though the recent escalation in which Ghanaians took to the streets, brandishing placards with uncomplimentary inscriptions, accusing Nigerians of being responsible for arm robbery, violent attacks, mass prostitution, kidnappings and ritual killings in their country may have its root in the 1983 mass expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants over rising crimes and economic pressure in the popular “Ghana-Must-Go” slogan, historians say Ghana drew the first blood when in 1969, it ordered over two million settlers, mostly Nigerians to leave.
The latest diplomatic tension has been linked to an alleged plan by a certain Nigerian national from the South East region to establish what he called Igbo kingdom, going further in a viral video to say that Igbos (Nigeria’s South Easterners) will soon takeover Ghana. This came after the installation of a Nigerian traditional leader, Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu, as ‘Eze Ndi Igbo Ghana’ (King of the Igbo People in Ghana), which triggered widespread protests and public outcry across parts of the country.
Conflict Exaggerated — Dele Momodu
The publisher of Ovation magazine, Chief Dele Momodu who has lived in Ghana for about three decades said the conflict is rather “exaggerated” in the social media than the true situation of the development on ground, as he couldn’t get wind of what was happening despite being in Ghanaian soil throughout the protests.
While describing Nigeria as big and flamboyant, he said the tension may have been sparked by Nigeria’s influence in the Ghana’s economy where Nigerians, especially those from the South East region have deployed their business ingenuity to compete in the gold-rich nation’s economic space, making exploits amid economic challenges in the country.
He further advised Nigerians living in Ghana to operate within a limit and respect the culture of their host country, expressing hope that the current tension will be doused, especially with the kind of President Ghana has at the moment. It is public knowledge that President John Dramani Mahama is more than a friend to Nigeria, having lived in Kwara State on exile when his father fled Ghana after the coup that toppled former President Kwame Nkruma in February 1966.
While these alleged crimes by Nigerians are seen in virtually all parts of the world, analysts believe that it has become increasingly fashionable for Nigerians to be named as prime perpetrators, either rightly or wrongly to soil what is largely considered an already fractured reputation. With the tight security system in Ghana, it has also come under question how Nigerians commit crimes without being apprehended and brought to justice according to laws of Ghana.
“Nigeria Must Go” Violation of ECOWAS Protocol — Amb. Onyeagba
Meanwhile, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, Amb. Elijah Onyeagba has kicked against the demand for Nigerians to be expelled from Ghana, calling it an undermine of ECOWAS protocol which allows nations in the fold of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to travel around within the region and live without visas.
He expressed worry that Ghanaians living in Nigeria, along with their businesses could also face threat if Nigerians are forcefully elected from the neighbouring Ghana or face severe attacks. He also blamed the social media for blowing the situation out of proportion, urging that migrants must respect the culture and traditions of their host countries.
“It’s important you understand the culture of your host community and try as much as possible to restore that culture, or respect that culture as well. If you look at what has happened in the case of Ghana, there was a Nigerian that called himself a king of the Igbo in Ghana, he talked about buying a lot of lands, and then he was going to have a kingdom. If you look at it very well, this can be very offensive.
“But you see, the social media is a bit of a problem here, because nobody could even differentiate, because people are actually thinking that he had already established the kingdom. The claim about purchasing 250 plots of land in Ghana to be able move his kingdom to those locations can be interpreted as being offensive. It’s important that we respect one another”, he stated.
No Cause For Alarm – Minister
Meanwhile, the Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has paid a visit to Ghana to mend diplomatic fences where at a joint press conference she said there is no cause for alarm over the demand by Ghanaians to send Nigerians out of their country.
According to the Minister, upon her arrival in Ghana, she couldn’t see people burning tyres in the streets or carrying placards everywhere demanding the deportation of Nigerians, implying that the situation was being handled by Ghanaian authorities.
“I would say there’s no cause for alarm, they are handling the situation effectively, and we will continue engaging stakeholders. We have met with some of the leaders and individuals involved in a bid to de-escalate tensions,” she said.
While there are no perfect diplomatic relations anywhere around the globe, analysts believe Nigeria and Ghana share much in common, pointing back to the colonial era and as a result of their regional closeness. There is a significant cultural relationship including political structures, music especially hip-life or highlife, food most popular of which is jollof rice as well as linguistic similitude, being Anglophone countries. These are points that should be consolidated upon to build each other economically and culturally, as against regular rivalry between both countries.
