A growing anti-Nigerian sentiment has erupted in Ghana as citizens staged protests on Tuesday, accusing Nigerian immigrants of involvement in prostitution, ritual killings, and violent crimes. Videos circulating online showed demonstrators carrying placards with messages like “Nigerians must go,” “Our kids are missing because of Igbos,” and “Mass prostitution endangering our health.”
The protesters displayed a photograph of an alleged murder victim they claimed was killed by a Nigerian in Accra. One female demonstrator in her 30s declared: “Nigerians can’t be in someone’s country and behave anyhow. They must leave.” Another accused Nigerians, particularly Igbo traders, of dominating local markets and disregarding Ghanaian laws. “They’ve even installed an Igbo king in Ghana and seized our lands,” he claimed.
The demonstrations recall Nigeria’s 1983 mass expulsion of over two million undocumented migrants, mostly Ghanaians, under President Shehu Shagari – an event that spawned the iconic “Ghana Must Go” travel bag.
Ghanaian authorities have not yet responded to the protesters’ demands for action against Nigerian residents. The tensions highlight worsening relations between West Africa’s two largest economies, with longstanding cultural and economic ties now strained by allegations of criminal activities.
Market conflicts and competition for jobs have previously sparked xenophobic rhetoric in both nations. Observers warn the current crisis could escalate without diplomatic intervention, as social media amplifies accusations against the Nigerian diaspora community in Ghana.
The Ghanaian government faces mounting pressure to address citizens’ concerns while preventing vigilante actions against foreign nationals. Meanwhile, Nigerian officials are yet to comment on the safety of their citizens in Ghana amid the rising tensions.
