PICTORIAL: Bianca Meets Ghana’s President Mahama Over Anti-Nigerian Protests

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Friday met with President John Mahama of Ghana to address the recent wave of protests in the country demanding the expulsion of Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Friday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said her visit was aimed at conveying President Bola Tinubu’s deep concerns over the disturbing development.

“I was in Accra to deliver a message from President Bola Tinubu regarding the recent protests targeted at Nigerian citizens living in Ghana. The President is deeply concerned and has urged for calm and mutual respect between our peoples,” she wrote.

Mahama, in response, was said to have reassured the Nigerian government of his administration’s commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence between Ghanaians and Nigerians.

“President Mahama assured me that the government of Ghana remains committed to fostering harmony and protecting the rights of all lawful residents, including Nigerians,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

Prior to her meeting with Mahama, the minister held talks with Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Thursday.

During the engagement, she appealed for calm and urged Ghanaian authorities to address the root causes of xenophobic sentiments.

The diplomatic visit follows growing unease sparked by recent viral videos showing street protests in Accra where some protesters chanted “Nigerians must go,” accusing Nigerians of criminal activities and economic domination.

Recall that the Nigerian Senate had condemned the protests, describing them as unjust, dangerous, and a threat to regional unity within the West African sub-region.