Even though there were Togolese, Burkinabes, Ivorians, Nigeriens and other West Africans in the country, Nigerians, mostly ethnic Yorubas from the south-western states of Nigeria, formed the majority of the foreign population in Ghana then. Some of them had been living here for years and were into their second and third generations.
It felt like the exercise was aimed at Nigerians and their journeys home were not pleasant. Then oil came to Nigeria and as they became rich, Ghana's economy collapsed and from around , the exodus to Nigeria was on. University professors, architects, engineers, carpenters, masons, tailors, hairdressers, maidservants and our classrooms were emptied of all teachers from kindergarten, primary, secondary and tertiary. If you were a Nigerian family of any worth, you had to have a Ghanaian nanny, a Ghanaian maidservant, a Ghanaian cook, a Ghanaian gardener and your children were likely to have a Ghanaian teacher at school or as a private tutor.
Then in the Nigerian government announced the expulsion of all undocumented aliens. Since Ghanaians constituted the majority of the aliens, it felt like this was aimed at Ghanaians. The unofficial name for the exercise, and for the plastic bag that the desperate departing Ghanaians used to carry their possessions, became "Ghana Must Go".
It was not a pleasant journey back to Ghana. We were at our lowest ebb and we were mocked mercilessly as we shopped for toilet roll and cooking oil to take home. The Nigerians would never admit it, of course, but it did feel like the hurt of the Ghanaian Aliens Compliance Order had been finally assuaged. Gradually, we went back to building a relationship, because we really couldn't do without each other.
The West African regional organisation, Ecowas, had come into being in and as the two major English-speaking countries in the group, we needed each other to make things work. Things were stable for as long as we recognised their "seniority". That we were the poor relations was firmly established. They brought Ghana to a halt in by stopping the special terms for selling us oil. We went to beg, and it was restored. Conversely, the prominence that welcomed Nigeria to the league of independent nations attracted jealousy and suspicion from Ghana in terms of which country would take on the hegemonic role of leading the African continent.
Thus, before the military struck in both countries in the second half of the s, the civilian political elite viewed one another with jealousy and suspicion. This manifested in war of words between diplomats of both countries. To this end, when the Organisation of African Unity OAU was created, it equally turned out to be the theatre of leadership war between both countries.
Perhaps, one of the most important and striking reason for the unhealthy relationship between the two countries during the period under examination was, as the political scientists argued, meddling in the affairs of each other country with consequences. Nkrumah of providing a base for the AG to train and to overthrow the Nigerian government. Expectedly, the accusation was refuted by the Ghanaian government.
In recent times, many claim that just as in South Africa , Ghanaians hate the guts and business aggressiveness of Nigerians. Worse still, Ghanaians are said to get angry when Nigerian businessmen shower money like confetti to sway Ghana ladies to their side, leaving their men helpless.
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo had originally struck a conciliatory tone, condemning hostilities between Ghanaian and Nigerian traders and calling for talks with Abuja. In January he said: "Trade issues, the border and our own internal problems with the Nigerians involved in Ghanaian retail business; these are matters that friends should be able to sit down and resolve.
Now, a couple of months later, the tone has become much less friendly. The recent flare-up of the traditional trade rivalry "has to be seen in the light of forthcoming elections," in Ghana on December 7, expert Cummings said. The incumbent administration of Nana Akufo-Addo will want to appear strong "both from a foreign policy and also domestic perspective" in a "context where all countries are trying to shield their respective populations from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic," he added.
Traditional competitiveness between Ghana and Nigeria has never had any significant negative political or economic repercussions for the region. But current circumstances might change that. In view of the COVID pandemic "any form of economic recovery, especially in West Africa, will require greater cohesion between member states to increase intra-bloc trade," Cummings said.
Not only will ECOWAS have little time and energy to waste on a relatively minor ongoing dispute between two major members. It is also dependent on major members' support to help solve the crises which already have a huge impact on the region, and threaten to make problems worse. Got an opinion about the stories making headlines? International SMS charges apply. Please make sure to include your name and your country. We will sample your texts in our show.
Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw. It left me equal parts infuriated, exasperated and saddened at Ghanaian media needlessly inflaming public sentiment every time one misguided Nigerian of over million dispersed around the world, commits a crime. The kidnappings are among several other incidents occurring in a climate of arguably unprecedented violent crimes with the killings of at least three women—among them a street hawker , the marketing and public affairs manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority , one prominent pastor and an investigative journalist since late Judging by comments on social and some news media, Nigerians have already been found guilty of the kidnappings.
The first point conveniently overlooks the latent lapses in, with and between the security apparatuses in Nigeria and Ghana that allowed this monstrous kidnapper to reportedly break jail more than once in both countries.
0コメント