President John Dramani Mahama has firmly dismissed rumors of a planned mass deportation of Nigerian nationals from Ghana, calling the alarm a result of misinformation fueled by a resurfaced video.
During a diplomatic meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Accra, President Mahama clarified that Ghana remains committed to upholding the rights of all foreign nationals in the country, particularly within the framework of the ECOWAS protocols on free movement and residency.
The visit by Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu came in response to mounting concerns in Nigeria following the circulation of a viral video that sparked fears of targeted deportations and attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana. The footage, which drew national attention in Nigeria, prompted emergency debates in the Nigerian National Assembly and led traditional leaders to advise family members in Ghana to return home.
President Mahama sought to ease tensions, stating that the fears were unfounded and that Ghana had no policy or intention to expel Nigerians or any other foreign nationals. “This has been a bit of a storm in a teacup,” he remarked. “Ghana and Nigeria are like siblings. Our shared membership in ECOWAS obligates us to protect the rights of each other’s citizens.”
Addressing the video at the heart of the uproar, the President clarified that it dated back to 2013 and involved a claim by an individual identifying as an “Igbo king” seeking to establish a traditional kingdom in Ghana. He explained that such an endeavor is not legally permissible under Ghanaian law, which strictly regulates the establishment of traditional councils and forbids foreign entities from creating sovereign chieftaincies within its territory.
He emphasized that while isolated incidents involving foreign nationals do occur, Ghana deals with such matters through due legal process. “There is no mass deportation plan,” President Mahama said. “Individuals who break the law are prosecuted accordingly. There will be no collective punishment.”
Reflecting on the historical mass deportations between Ghana and Nigeria in the 1960s and 1980s, Mahama described those episodes as regrettable and stressed that both nations have moved beyond such adversarial actions. “That is a past we must never repeat,” he stated.
Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed appreciation for the Ghanaian government’s openness and reassurances. “We were prepared for a more tense environment, but instead, we’ve seen calm and stability. President Mahama’s leadership has helped to prevent what could have been a dangerous misunderstanding,” she said.
She further commended the President for reaffirming the long-standing relationship between the two West African nations and expressed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with Ghana in maintaining regional peace and cooperation.
President Mahama concluded by assuring that Ghana remains a welcoming and hospitable country for all peaceful and law-abiding foreign residents and reiterated his commitment to ongoing diplomatic dialogue with Nigeria.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
