No Mass Deportations – Mahama assures Nigerians in Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has assured the Nigerian government and its nationals living in Ghana that there are no plans for mass deportations, following concerns raised over a widely circulated viral video.

The President gave the assurance during a courtesy call by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who conveyed fears among Nigerians sparked by the video.

The delegation was dispatched by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in response to growing anxiety back home.

He said there is no intention whatsoever to expel Nigerians from Ghana.

“Our two countries are like siblings from the same parents, our destinies are linked. We’ve had difficult moments in the past, including deportations in the 1960s and 1980s, but those are unfortunate chapters we must never repeat.” he stressed.

President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols, which guarantee the free movement of persons and goods across member countries. He described the uproar as “a storm in a teacup” and called for calm, urging both nations to focus on their shared history and strong ties.

Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that the viral video had triggered panic in Nigeria, prompting emergency meetings in the National Assembly and calls from traditional leaders urging their relatives in Ghana to return home. She also raised concerns about reported threats to Nigerian-owned shops.

President Mahama addressed those fears, stating that Ghana deals with individual wrongdoing through legal channels, not collective punishment.

“Those who commit crimes will be held individually accountable under Ghanaian law. There will be no sweeping actions against any nationality,” he emphasized.

He explained that the source of the panic was an old video from 2013 featuring an “Igbo king” discussing land acquisition in Ghana, which resurfaced and was widely misinterpreted as a recent development.

“It’s impossible under Ghanaian law for any traditional authority from outside the country to establish a kingdom here,” he clarified.

Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended President Mahama for his swift response and reassurances, noting that her delegation’s arrival in Accra revealed a peaceful environment contrary to fears of unrest.