Bianca Ojukwu visits Ghana amid rising anti-Nigerian protests

Ghanaians have continued to protest against Nigerians living in their country, calling for their deportation.

The protests began on Tuesday, with many people holding signs that accused Nigerians of crimes such as robbery, prostitution, kidnapping, and ritual killings. Some of the signs also targeted the Igbo ethnic group specifically.

A video showed a blind protester urging President John Mahama to prioritize Ghanaians under his “Ghana First” policy.

In response to the growing tension, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arrived in Ghana on Tuesday evening. She said her visit was to strengthen Nigeria-Ghana relations and ensure the safety of Nigerians living in Ghana.

Shortly after landing at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, she briefly met with Ghana’s Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who was heading to London. She continued meetings the next day with Ghanaian government officials and Nigerian community leaders.

Ambassador Ojukwu is expected to return to Abuja today.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs condemned the protests.

They described the anti-Nigerian demonstrations as disturbing and against African unity.

The committee urged both nations to maintain their long-standing friendship and to work together through ECOWAS to promote peace and regional cooperation.

They also praised Ambassador Ojukwu and the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for their quick response.

The committee commended both Nigerian and Ghanaian diplomats for working together to calm the situation.