‘Nigerians must go’ protests erupt in Ghana over alleged crimes

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Headlines Wednesday, July 30th, 2025

Tensions flared in parts of Ghana on Tuesday as groups of protesters took to the streets demanding the expulsion of Nigerians over allegations of rising crime, including prostitution, ritual killings, and economic dominance.

Videos circulating widely on social media showed dozens of demonstrators, many wielding placards with inflammatory messages such as “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals,” and “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution”. Some signs also claimed that Nigerians were responsible for missing children and rising violence in Ghanaian communities.

A woman, appearing in one of the protest videos, shouted, “Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow. Nigerians must go.” Another protester accused Nigerians, especially those of Igbo descent, of dominating local markets and land ownership: “They even have an Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country.”

Protesters also displayed the image of a man they alleged had been killed by a Nigerian in Accra, further stoking tensions. There were no immediate independent confirmations of the incident or the claims made during the protest.

As of the time of reporting, the Ghanaian government had not issued an official statement addressing the protest or clarifying its stance on the status of Nigerians living in the country.

The development has sparked concerns over a potential diplomatic fallout between the two West African neighbours, especially given the historical context. In 1983, Nigeria’s then-President Shehu Shagari ordered the expulsion of nearly two million undocumented immigrants—mostly Ghanaians—citing economic pressures. The episode, remembered through the phrase “Ghana must go,” remains a sensitive chapter in the countries’ shared history.

In that instance, Shagari said, “If you break a law, then you have to pay for it. Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever.”

Tuesday’s protest marks one of the most public expressions of resentment against Nigerian immigrants in Ghana in recent years, reigniting debates over immigration policy, economic competition, and xenophobia in West Africa.

No Nigerian government official had publicly responded to the protests at press time.

GUARDIAN