Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa Ease Pressure on Nigerians in Ghana — Traders’ Union
The Nigeria Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) has said that recent xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa have unexpectedly helped reduce anti-Nigerian sentiments in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, NUTAG President, Evaristus Nwankwo, said the development had contributed to calming tensions between some Ghanaians and Nigerians living in the country.
According to him, Ghanaian citizens who witnessed how their compatriots were affected by the attacks in South Africa began reconsidering calls for Nigerians to leave Ghana.
“What happened in South Africa has become a relief for us here in Ghana because the South Africans did not spare Ghanaians either,” Nwankwo said.
He noted that many Ghanaians questioned the rationale behind demanding the expulsion of Nigerians after seeing their own nationals face similar hostility abroad.
“For now, such agitation has died down,” he added.
Nwankwo also credited diplomatic efforts between the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments for helping to ease tensions and improve relations between both communities.
He revealed that Ghanaian authorities had agreed to make concessions regarding the proposed one million-dollar registration fee, particularly for Nigerians who have resided in the country since 2020.
The NUTAG president further recalled that a previous Ghanaian trade minister had altered an existing bilateral agreement by directing that shop rental agreements held by Nigerians would not be renewed after expiration.
However, he said the situation has improved significantly under the current administration.
“Since the present government came on board, everything has settled down. The way the government is receiving Nigerians here is wonderful,” he said.
Nwankwo urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to appoint a substantive High Commissioner to Ghana without delay, stressing that the move would help strengthen efforts to protect the interests and welfare of Nigerians living in the country.
