President John Dramani Mahama has moved to allay fears among Nigerian nationals living in Ghana and the Nigerian government, following the circulation of a viral video that sparked concerns of potential mass deportations.
According to citinewsroom.com report on August 3, 2025, President Mahama gave the assurance during a courtesy call from Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who was dispatched as a special envoy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The visit followed growing anxiety in Nigeria after the resurfacing of a 2013 video showing an ‘Igbo king’ allegedly discussing land acquisition for a kingdom in Ghana.
The video, widely misinterpreted as a recent development, triggered unease and calls for the repatriation of Nigerian citizens from Ghana.
President Mahama described the situation as ‘a bit of a storm in a teacup,’ clarifying that Ghanaian law governs the establishment of traditional councils and that any such external claims have no legal standing.
He stressed that Ghana has no intention of engaging in mass deportations, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the principles of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly the protocol on free movement of persons.
“We are members of ECOWAS, and we have the ECOWAS protocol that allows our citizens to travel freely between our countries. Ghana and Nigeria are siblings of the same parents, and so our destinies are joined together”, he stated.
He recalled past instances of mass deportations, Ghanaians expelled from Nigeria in the 1980s and Nigerians from Ghana in the 1960s describing them as ‘an unfortunate past’ that should never be repeated.
While acknowledging that some individuals involved in criminal activity may face legal consequences, he stressed that these will be handled on a case-by-case basis through proper judicial procedures, not collective punishment.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu relayed the Nigerian government’s concerns over the safety of its nationals, including fears of business attacks and forced returns.
She cited emergency discussions in Nigeria’s National Assembly and appeals from traditional rulers urging relatives in Ghana to return home.
However, she commended President Mahama for his firm reassurance and efforts to defuse tensions, noting that the delegation’s arrival in Accra did not reflect the panic initially feared.
