President John Mahama of Ghana says there is no place for xenophobia in his country following recent protests targeting Nigerians.
Mahama spoke on Friday in a meeting with Bianca
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s minister of state for foreign affairs, who conveyed
President Bola Tinubu’s concerns over the protests against Nigerians in Ghana.
The Ghanaian president allayed Tinubu’s concerns and asked
him not to lose sleep over the protests.
According to a statement issued by Magnus Eze,
Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s special assistant on communication and new media, Mahama gave
assurance on the safety and protection of the lives, properties, and businesses
of Nigeria and 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.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigerians back home were apprehensive
over the situation, adding that her visit was to douse the tension.
The minister said the visit was also to facilitate the
establishment of a permanent Nigeria-Ghana joint commission to address youth
migration caused by unemployment.
“We are encouraging our youth to stay in Nigeria, and if it
is necessary to migrate, they are to be great ambassadors,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu
said.
The minister had met with Samuel Ablakwa, her Ghanaian
counterpart, on Thursday, who assured her that the government was addressing
the situation.
