Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of state for foreign affairs, has appealed for calm as some Ghanaians demand the deportation of Nigerians from their country.
The minister spoke on Wednesday during a joint press briefing in Ghana.
“This shows that the Ghanaian government and the president have stepped up to the situation — I would say there’s no cause for alarm, they are handling the situation effectively, and we will continue engaging stakeholders.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also explained that they had met with some of the leaders and individuals involved in a bid to de-escalate tensions.
“The Ghanaian government will ensure that everyone in the country — citizens and non-citizens — is protected,” he said.
BACKGROUND
Over the weekend, a group of Ghanaians staged a protest demanding that Nigerians be sent back to their home country, alleging that their behaviour does not align with Ghanaian values.
The protesters, who were mostly traders from the local retail market, carried placards and other items, while stating that their Nigerian counterparts were causing problems and were allegedly involved in criminal activities.