Igbo Nigerian citizens occupying the Eastern part of Nigeria has reignited history Ghana-Nigeria bilateral relationship will never wish its resuscitation. The incident is traced to 1969, when Ghanian Government led by Premier Minister Kofi Busia issued an “Alien Compliance Order”, directing all non-Ghanian citizens without valid residence permits to quit the country within 14 days. This order, aimed at addressing economic and social issues related to the presence of undocumented immigrants, led to the expulsion of huge number of people of different nationals with Nigerians predominantly affected. Nigerians were forced to auction their property in the most ridiculous amount and many of the property that could not be auctioned including fixed assets like houses, including companies of different sizes and lands were inherited by Ghanaians. This order further led to a complete displacement and the challenges of reintegrating into their countries of origin. Nigerians faced difficult conditions back home, including economic hardship and social challenges. Consequently, the expulsions strained relations between Ghana and Nigeria in particular.
In January 1983, Nigerian government led by late President Shehu Shagari played a return match for Ghanaian’s wicked act of evicting Nigerians from its country and inherited their property. Shagari, in January 1983 issued an executive order compelling illegal immigrants to leave Nigeria or face arrest and prosecution. These resulted into forceful eviction of about one million Ghanaians out of the two million illegal immigrants in the country. The deportation was tagged, “Ghana must go” The incident has continued to be remembered through the phrase, “Ghana must Go”. Which refers to the checkered bags used by many to carry their belongings.
July 2025, “Nigerians Must Go” call has started in Ghana again as Ghanaian youths are calling on their government to flush Nigerians out of their country. To show their seriousness, they have continued to embark on series of protest with placards displaying multiple inscriptions. Among the inscriptions are “Ashawo Must Go’, “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals”, “Armed Robbery and Violence Attacks Must Stop”, “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution”, “Who protect the right and freedom of Ghanaians”, “We’re Out. Nigeria Must Go Demonstration; Our Market Are Flooded; Our Jobs Are Vanishing; Our Future is Under Threat; No More Foreigners in Our Retail Space! Come Out in Your Numbers; Let’s Reclaim What ‘s Ours; The Time Is now!”. In the ongoing protest, it has been alleged that Ghanaian protesters have continued to storm Nigerians’ shops, particularly, Igbo shops, destroying and vandalizing them. Many video clips on the social media attest to this.
Series of allegations have been levied against Nigerians living in Ghana. Mainly, Ghanaians are claiming that Nigerians are behind the increased criminal activities in the country. Specifically, they alleged that Nigerian females have introduced proliferation of prostitution into their system. They also alleged that Nigerians have scaled up kidnapping for various reasons including ritual and sale of human vitals, armed robbery and perpetuating act of terrorism. The allegations were not substantiated, but the protesters alleged that among the kidnapping incidents traced to Nigerians is that of Agyei Baffour Emmanuel, a.k.a. Atom De Moral Spirit once declared missing but later found dead.
Though, in the series of “Nigeria Must Go” protests the Ghanaian youth have staged, the Ghanaians are not asking for the eviction of the entire Nigerians but Igbo people. Irking the Ghanaians is that an Igbo man, Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, with a title of Eze Indi Igbo of Ghana bought about 50 hectares of land to build a kingdom. This was met with stiff resistance by Ghanaians, who noted that the ambition is inimical and an insult to their tradition and culture. They felt an establishment of Igbo Kingdom is an attempt to discreetly take away their land and turn themselves to citizens and start to enjoy the citizens’ rights including voting and being voted for.
In a video uploaded on X, some youth of Amanasi in the Eastern part of Ghana called on all the Ghanaian youth and expressed their disappointment over the perceived silence of the government on the matter. They said, “We have to bring our heads together and start protesting now. What is going on in Ghana is something else and the government is not saying anything about it. The president is taking it lightly. We are not finding it lightly. The Igbo king must go and the Igbo people must go. We don’t want any long talk. When you go to Rome, you do what the Romans do. There are rules and regulations in Ghana. You don’t just leave your country behind and come to another man’s country and start imposing things on them. That is not how it is done. Over here in Ghana, we respect our traditions and culture and we respect each other. That is why you see the peace which we are living in today in Ghana. Why is that anywhere you people go, you want to cause chaos and problems. You know that with your prostitution and criminality, you are spoiling our youth. You, the Igbo people living in Ghana, this is our message. We know you guys have money; you can buy anything you want but not our country. You can never buy our country.”
The spokesperson of the group continued, “I wonder how you forget your country in a minute just to claim another man’s country. I thought you guys were smart, and intelligent. I came across a video today, some stupid guy online talking nonsense saying we Ghanaians should leave their king alone and we should stay away from their kingdom and if anything happens to their king or kingdom, they will beat us mercilessly. You think say you are the only one dey smoke Igbo, Ogun kill you for that Nigeria there. And Ogun kill that your Igbo king. You are the first to start colonisation or what? If you are the first black man who will start colonisation, that fucking shit, you will not be happy for Ghana.”
This development may have been among the reasons why the South East Council of Traditional Rulers outlawed the use of the title “Eze Ndigbo” by leaders of Ndigbo outside the region and replaced it with Onye-isi Ndindu Ndigbo. In a letter to the chairman of Igbo Leaders in the Diaspora and signed by the chairman of the council, HRM Eze E.C. Okeke, the Igbo leaders are to henceforth stop using the title “Onyedu Ndigbo” immediately..
According to the council, “Eze” is a revered traditional title reserved by culture, tradition and legislation for traditional rulers recognized by governments in the South East states.’ It added that “Eze” is also a title used by a traditional ruler enthroned and coronated by his community/kingdom in accordance with their laid down customs, culture and traditions inherited from their forbearers, progenitors and ancestors. you may wish to know that issues associated with the selection and enthronement of a traditional ruler are deeply rooted in certain rituals, divinations, and sacred ceremonies clearly defined and established by the cultures of various ethnic nationalities Ndigbo inclusive. “Eze” as the king is referred to in Igbo-Land should have a community, kingdom or clan to administer. This is to say (suffice it to say) that there cannot be an “Eze” without a community, kingdom or clan to rule. An ‘eze must have a symbol of authority – the ofo which is not merely ceremonial but a spiritual tool given to him by his people to enable him to perform his statutory cultural and traditional roles in his community as the traditional ruler. The council argued that the title “Eze” cannot be given to or conferred on persons residing outside lgbo communities irrespective of their personality or positions (elective or otherwise) since it is not a political title and neither is it a title of convenience but one rooted in the culture and traditions of a people.”
However, the Ghanaian government has reacted stating that after holding a meeting with Ihenetu, Ihenetu who is the centre of the crisis has shelved the idea of establishing a kingdom in Ghana. Speaking, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa pointed out that while Ghana remains proud of its renowed friendly foreign policy and hospitality toward all, visitors are expected to respect the country’s laws, traditions, and peaceful coexistence. He added, “Government urges calm and restraint and recalls the inseparable bond of friendship and brotherhood between Ghana and Nigeria.”
Nevertheless, Nigerian government officials have started reacting to the incident. Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, condemned the blanket outrage against Nigerians living in Ghana and branding them as criminals.
She stated in a statement signed by NiDCOM Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, “Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions. Ghana and Nigeria are like Siamese twins. They are brothers and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration should continue to live in peace like brothers.”
The NIDCOM Boss thus appealed for calm and urged Nigerians living in Ghana not to be provoked or go into violence with anyone as the issue is being handled at the diplomatic level by the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu. She advised anyone using inciteful words, on both sides, to desist henceforth as such statements are capable of escalating the matter.
Dabiri-Erewa also advised Nigerians to disregard the videos circulating that Nigerians’ shops and properties are being destroyed by Ghanaians stating, “There is no evidence to that and we must at all cost try to prevent any reprisal attacks.” She praised Ghanaian and Nigeria High Commissioners for their efforts to control the situation, adding that the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, has also been in touch with Ghanaian authorities and had taken some pro-active measures.
Also, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations, Senator Aniekan Bassey, has strongly condemned the recent protest in Ghana targeting Nigerians, describing it as “deeply disturbing and contrary to the spirit of African brotherhood.” Senator Bassey, a member of the 6th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, in a statement on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, called on both Nigeria and Ghana to maintain the long-standing bond of friendship, mutual respect, and regional cooperation that binds the two nations. “We must keep the flame of brotherhood alive. Nigeria and Ghana, as key members of ECOWAS, should be at the forefront of promoting peace, unity, and regional integration as enshrined in the ECOWAS charter,” he said.
Reassuring Nigerians living in Ghana, Senator Bassey noted that the authorities of both nations are in active communication and have already taken proactive steps to manage the situation and protect the rights and welfare of Nigerian citizens. “We stand with every law-abiding Nigerian in Ghana and urge calm as the appropriate diplomatic channels are being effectively explored,” he added. He urged Nigerians living in Ghana to remain law abiding and desist from inciteful words and continually toe the path of peace and harmony.
