The relationship between Nigeria and Ghana, two West African powerhouses, is being tested by rising tensions over immigration, trade disputes, and xenophobic incidents that threaten decades of diplomatic cooperation.
The Current Climate
About two million Nigerians currently reside in Ghana, while an estimated 500,000 Ghanaians live in Nigeria. This significant population exchange, meant to embody the spirit of regional integration, has instead become a source of friction between the neighboring nations.
Recent incidents have escalated beyond isolated disputes. In 2024, tensions reached diplomatic levels when Ghana’s treatment of Nigerian citizens prompted concerns about systematic discrimination. The persistent, subtle, and violent xenophobia unleashed on Nigerian citizens has been transferred to the country’s diplomatic building in Ghana.
Economic Undercurrents
The root of these tensions lies in economic competition and resource scarcity. Undertones of economic despair can fuel xenophobic rhetoric and violence, as locals look for scapegoats to blame for their economic challenges. Nigerian traders, particularly successful in Ghana’s commercial centers, have become targets of resentment from local business communities who view them as unfair competition.
Market disputes have frequently turned violent. Angry traders reportedly attacked Nigerian traders and sealed off their shops, with some Nigerian traders resisting in self-defence, leading to brawls before police intervention.
Historical Context
This is not a new phenomenon. Traces of these attacks have long existed since the 1960s with countries such as Ghana and Nigeria raising agitations against each other and occasioning displacements of millions of people. The infamous 1983 mass deportation of Ghanaians from Nigeria, which gave birth to the term “Ghana Must Go” bags, remains a painful memory that continues to influence contemporary relations.
The Broader Implications
These bilateral tensions reflect a wider challenge across Africa. The two countries have occasionally experienced xenophobic sentiments, especially concerning the migration of Nigerians into Ghana and vice versa. Similar patterns are emerging across the continent, threatening the African Union’s vision of free movement and continental integration.
The situation is particularly concerning given both countries’ leadership roles in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), where they champion regional integration while struggling to manage migration-related tensions at home.
Looking Forward
As Ghana’s government grapples with implementation of migration policies and Nigeria faces its own internal displacement challenges, the need for collaborative solutions has never been more urgent. The current trajectory threatens not only bilateral relations but also the broader West African integration project.
Both nations must address the economic grievances driving xenophobia while strengthening diplomatic mechanisms to protect their citizens abroad. Without deliberate intervention, these tensions risk undermining decades of cooperation and the shared vision of a unified West Africa.
The question now is whether political leadership in both countries can rise above populist pressures to restore the fraternal relationship that once defined Nigeria-Ghana relations.