Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has reassured his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, that there is no place for xenophobia in Ghana, following recent protests targeting Nigerians.
Gatekeepers News reports that Mahama made this assurance during a meeting with Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
According to a statement issued by Magnus Eze, Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s special assistant on communication and new media, Mahama gave guarantees on the safety and protection of the lives, properties, and businesses of Nigerians in Ghana.
“He also cited his commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols regarding the free movement of persons and goods in the region,” the statement read.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigerians were apprehensive over the situation, adding that her visit was to douse the tension.
“We are encouraging our youth to stay in Nigeria, and if it is necessary to migrate, they are to be great ambassadors,” she said.
The Nigerian minister had met with her Ghanaian counterpart, Samuel Ablakwa, on Thursday, who assured her that the government was addressing the situation. Mahama asked President Tinubu not to lose sleep over the protests, giving assurance that the Ghanaian government would ensure the safety of Nigerians in the country.
The visit also aimed to facilitate the establishment of a permanent Nigeria-Ghana joint commission to address youth migration caused by unemployment.
