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A recent protest in Ghana has drawn widespread attention as some Ghanaians accuse Nigerians particularly members of the Igbo ethnic group of bringing crime and social problems into the country. In a viral video circulated on Tuesday, a large number of protesters were seen carrying placards with messages such as “Nigerians must go,” “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,” and “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution.”
One woman speaking passionately in the video claimed that Nigerians have shown a lack of respect for Ghanaian laws and must leave the country. Another man accused Nigerians of taking over local markets and engaging in illegal activities, including alleged kidnappings and ritual killings.
The protests have sparked comparisons to the 1983 “Ghana Must Go” incident, when the Nigerian government, under President Shehu Shagari, expelled nearly two million undocumented West African immigrants, many of them Ghanaians. At the time, Nigerians accused these immigrants of taking jobs and contributing to economic challenges.
The recent accusations in Ghana now flip the narrative, with locals claiming that Nigerians are contributing to rising crime rates, prostitution, and instability. The video showed images of a man allegedly killed by a Nigerian, further fuelling the tension.
While the protests are growing in visibility, the Ghanaian government has not yet issued a statement addressing the concerns raised or the demand for deportation of Nigerians, regardless of their immigration status.
Protesters in Ghana are accusing Nigerians of causing a rise in social vices like prostitution, ritual killings, and armed robbery. Many of the claims in the protest video pointed specifically at Igbos, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups. Placards carried during the demonstration read strong messages like “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals,” and “Who protects the rights and freedom of Ghanaians?”
One protester expressed concern over the presence of a self-proclaimed “Igbo king” in Ghana, claiming it symbolized a foreign takeover. They accused Nigerians of taking over villages and violating Ghanaian laws that restrict foreign involvement in certain businesses. According to the protesters, Nigerians are operating illegally in many areas and causing unrest.
These sentiments echo xenophobic patterns seen in past regional conflicts, where immigrant groups were blamed for economic and social issues. The 1983 mass deportation of Ghanaians by Nigeria is a historical reference point for many. During that event, President Shehu Shagari’s government ordered illegal immigrants to leave Nigeria immediately, citing similar complaints of lawbreaking and job displacement.
Now, some Ghanaians are calling for Nigerians in Ghana to be arrested, tried, and deported without delay. The language used in these calls mirrors the strict tone used by Nigeria decades ago.
So far, there has been no official response from Ghana’s government on the matter. The silence has left many wondering if action will be taken or if tensions will continue to rise.
The situation has sparked debate on social media, with users divided between those calling for unity in West Africa and those who feel the influx of foreigners is hurting Ghanaian society. As the protests grow louder, pressure is mounting for Ghanaian authorities to address the unrest and clarify their stance on the presence of Nigerians in the country.
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