From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has allayed fears over a recent protest against Nigerians in Ghana, saying there is no cause for alarm.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurances during a joint press briefing with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, on Wednesday in Accra.
The minister said she had to visit Ghana to conduct a firsthand assessment following anxiety caused by the viral videos of last Saturday’s street protests by Ghanaians, demanding the immediate expulsion of Nigerians from their country.
“Since I arrived, I haven’t seen people burning tyres in the streets or carrying placards everywhere calling for Nigerians to be deported. This shows that the Ghanaian government and the president have stepped up to the situation. I would say there’s no cause for alarm, they are handling the situation effectively, and we will continue engaging stakeholders”, she stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that she met some leaders and persons involved in the demonstration to de-escalate tensions.
On his part, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister said the matter is being addressed by the ministry and that it has met with some leaders of the Nigerian community.
“The Ghanaian government will ensure that everyone in the country (citizens and non-citizens) is protected”, he said.
Ablakwa, however, cautioned that foreigners must be “law-abiding and avoid criminal activities and actions that could divide us.”
Recall that the protest, which was held last Saturday at the popular Obra Spot in Accra, was sparked by growing frustration among some Ghanaian citizens who blame Nigerian nationals for the increasing levels of crime and social vices in the country.
While displaying placards with bold inscriptions like “Nigerians Must Go”, “End Kidnapping,” “End Prostitution”, End Armed Robbery”, “End Fraud”, “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians?”, ”End Murders”, “End Ritual”, and “Our Kids Are Missing Because of Igbos”, the protesters had insisted that the presence of Nigerians in Ghana was a threat to public safety.
