ACCRA: In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ghana experienced a deep political and economic crisis marked by soaring inflation, currency devaluation, growing public debt, youth unrest, and widespread unemployment. The country teetered on the brink of total collapse.
As a result, over 2 million Ghanaians fled the country in search of survival and stability. Nigeria, then considered West Africa’s economic powerhouse, welcomed more than 1.5 million Ghanaians legally, while nearly a million more entered the country undocumented.
Ghanaians, known for their discipline, honesty, and hardworking nature, quickly integrated into Nigerian society.
Within a decade, they had secured jobs as teachers, drivers, housekeepers, hotel staff, construction workers, and even artisans. They became a visible presence across Nigeria, settling into various sectors of the economy.
However, their growing presence raised concerns among young Nigerians and their families. Many feared they were losing job opportunities to immigrants, especially during a period when Nigeria itself was starting to experience economic pressure.
By 1983, the Nigerian government, under mounting pressure from labor unions, student groups, and the general public, ordered the mass expulsion of foreigners, with Ghanaians making up the majority.
Over 1.5 million Ghanaians were forced to leave many abruptly and without preparation.
Those unable to afford proper luggage resorted to packing their belongings in large, cheap, checkered bags that soon became known as Ghana Must Go bags a symbol of displacement and public humiliation.
The event left deep scars in the Ghanaian psyche and strained relations between the two nations for decades.
Ironically, Nigeria now faces many of the same issues Ghana experienced in the 1970s: high inflation, currency depreciation, widespread unemployment, corruption, and increasing public frustration.
Since 1999, Nigeria’s economy has struggled under the weight of poor governance and the unchecked looting of public funds by political elites.
As conditions worsened, millions of Nigerians began migrating in search of better lives, with Ghana becoming a top destination due to its relative political stability and improving infrastructure.
Today, over 2 million Nigerians reportedly live in Ghana, many of them involved in retail, entertainment, tech startups, and informal trade.
Just as Ghanaians once did in Nigeria, Nigerians in Ghana are now perceived by locals as dominating certain sectors, pushing out Ghanaian workers and business owners.
This perception has fueled resentment, particularly among Ghanaian youth, who face rising unemployment and economic uncertainty.
These frustrations came to a head last week when thousands of young Ghanaians staged a protest in Accra, demanding that the government deport Nigerians to create more opportunities for locals.
The situation is disturbingly familiar only this time, the roles are reversed. The echoes of 1983 are growing louder, raising fears that a mass deportation of Nigerians from Ghana may soon occur.
This development also shines a light on the failure of regional African institutions such as the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
These bodies, established to foster cooperation, peace, and integration among African nations, have remained largely silent on both past and present tensions between Nigeria and Ghana.
In 1983, when Ghanaian families were driven out of Nigeria in humiliation, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) the AU’s predecessor failed to intervene meaningfully.
Today, history threatens to repeat itself, and once again, the AU seems absent from the conversation.
These events challenge the idea of Pan-African unity. If Africans continue to treat each other as outsiders during times of crisis, how can the continent move toward true integration?
The unfolding tension between Nigeria and Ghana serves as a powerful reminder that history often repeats itself when lessons are ignored. The cycle of economic hardship, migration, resentment, and retaliation has returned this time with Nigerians at the receiving end.
Instead of escalating tensions, both governments must take diplomatic and humane approaches to resolve economic migration issues.
Regional bodies like the AU and ECOWAS must also step up to prevent further breakdowns in African solidarity.
Because if Ghana Must Go becomes Nigeria Must Leave, the dream of a truly united Africa may fade into nothing more than a memory and a missed opportunity.
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