Ghana labels Nigerians criminals, FG insists ‘we are brothers’

DDM News

(DDM) – A fresh diplomatic row may be brewing between Nigeria and Ghana following a protest by Ghanaian citizens demanding the expulsion of Nigerians from their country.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the demonstration, which erupted this week, saw hundreds of Ghanaian protesters accusing Nigerians of engaging in serious crimes including prostitution, ritual killings, kidnapping, and armed robbery.

Videos circulating online showed the protesters holding placards with inflammatory messages such as “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution,” “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals,” and “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos.”

The protest sparked outrage among Nigerians at home and abroad, with many calling for a firm diplomatic response from Nigeria’s government.

Reacting to the situation, the Federal Government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), described the protest as a dangerous and unacceptable blanket attack on Nigerian citizens.

Speaking on behalf of the commission, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, quoted NIDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa as calling the accusations deeply unfair and capable of damaging diplomatic ties between the two West African nations.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, “Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves. The few bad eggs should be singled out and dealt with, not used as an excuse to smear the entire population.”

She appealed for calm and urged Nigerians residing in Ghana not to retaliate or engage in violence, warning that tensions could easily escalate if not handled carefully.

Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that Ghana and Nigeria are “like Siamese twins” and should continue to co-exist peacefully under the spirit of ECOWAS integration and brotherhood.

She also urged both Ghanaians and Nigerians to refrain from using hate speech or circulating inciteful content, cautioning that such rhetoric only inflames the crisis.

Regarding viral videos alleging attacks on Nigerian-owned shops and properties in Ghana, Dabiri-Erewa clarified that there is currently no confirmed evidence supporting those claims and advised Nigerians to disregard such footage to prevent panic or reprisal actions.

She commended both the Nigerian and Ghanaian High Commissions for their diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and revealed that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has been in contact with Ghanaian authorities to address the issue swiftly.

This incident marks yet another flare-up in a series of friction points between the two nations in recent years, especially over trade, migration, and xenophobic rhetoric.

Many observers warn that if not urgently addressed, such protests and inflammatory accusations could threaten regional unity and undermine the ECOWAS vision of free movement and integration among West African states.

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