By Ameh Gabriel
Accra, Ghana – The governments of Nigeria and Ghana have jointly reaffirmed their longstanding diplomatic relations, assuring citizens of both countries that recent viral videos suggesting hostility towards Nigerians in Ghana are misleading and do not reflect the true state of affairs.
This assurance was delivered during a high-level visit by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who led a fact-finding delegation to Ghana on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Accra alongside Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed that the Nigerian delegation found no evidence of protests or aggression against Nigerian nationals.
“The situation on ground is calm and peaceful,” she stated. “We interacted with Nigerian residents and community leaders here in Ghana, and there’s no cause for alarm.”
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu praised Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership and called for the revitalisation of the Nigeria-Ghana Joint Commission to promote sustained cooperation and preempt potential diplomatic strains.
Minister Ablakwa, on his part, reassured the Nigerian community in Ghana of their safety and rights, noting that all law-abiding residents will continue to enjoy protection under Ghanaian law. He warned against the dangers of social media misinformation, emphasizing that such false narratives risk inflaming unnecessary tensions between two historically linked nations.
Referencing historical episodes such as the 1983 “Ghana Must Go” incident, both ministers underscored the importance of maturity, regional unity, and mutual respect in maintaining stable bilateral relations.
The Nigerian delegation also held closed-door meetings with key stakeholders, community leaders, and diplomats, with discussions centred on enhancing cross-border cooperation, promoting dialogue, and fostering regional integration.
