Ghana and Nigeria reaffirm ties, unity after viral video

In a demonstration of Pan-African unity, Ghana and Nigeria have reaffirmed their long-standing diplomatic and cultural ties following a wave of social media-fueled tension that briefly threatened to strain relations between the two West African countries.

At the heart of the controversy was a viral video that triggered outrage among Ghanaians and prompted concern within Nigerian leadership about the safety of its nationals residing in Ghana. But in a remarkable turn of diplomacy, both countries have not only moved to defuse tensions but are using the moment to strengthen their bond. 

Speaking in Accra, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), described the video as “deeply offensive and regrettable,” but praised Nigeria’s swift and responsible diplomatic response.

“The individual involved has been reprimanded, and he has issued a public apology to President John Dramani Mahama, the people of Ghana, and the government,” Ablakwa disclosed. “In our meeting, he was contrite and genuinely remorseful. This is the kind of maturity and accountability that supports lasting peace,” he added.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister of State, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, led a high-level delegation to Ghana on behalf of President Tinubu on a fact-finding mission. She is in Ghana to assess the situation on the ground, reassure Nigerian nationals, and prevent diplomatic fallout.

“We arrived with heavy concern—our government, our National Assembly, our traditional leaders, and ordinary Nigerians were deeply worried by calls circulating online urging Nigerians to leave Ghana,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said. She added that “But when we touched down in Accra, we found calm, not chaos. The tension we feared had not materialized on the ground.”

She extended Nigeria’s profound appreciation to President Mahama and Ghana’s traditional institutions for what she described as a “visionary, peaceful, and Pan-African response” to the incident.

Both ministers underscored that the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria goes far beyond politics. It is one anchored in a shared history, mutual struggles, and intertwined destinies. From ethnic bonds such as those between the Ewe, Ga, and Yoruba people to collaborative leadership within ECOWAS, the two nations are more than neighbours—they are brothers. 

According to Ghana’s foreign affairs minister, “our ancestors migrated along the same paths, that we have overcome colonialism, and that we now share a collective responsibility to lead Africa forward. These artificial borders cannot divide us.”

Odumegwu-Ojukwu echoed the sentiment. “The reckless actions of a few must never be allowed to undermine what has taken decades to build,” she said. “Nigerians and Ghanaians live side by side, work side by side, and dream together. That must not change.”

Referencing difficult moments in both countries’ shared history, such as the 1969 Aliens Compliance Order in Ghana and Nigeria’s 1983 “Ghana Must Go” deportation, both diplomats emphasized that the scars of the past serve as warnings, not blueprints.

They called for intensified community-to-community engagement and urged the media to avoid sensationalism that could stoke flames of division.

“We’ve seen the consequences of xenophobia in other African countries,” Ablakwa warned. Words can quickly become weapons. We must be careful not to allow that among us,” Ablakwa added. 

Odumegwu-Ojukwu praised Ghana’s reassurances that Nigerian nationals are safe and encouraged continued cooperation through established mechanisms such as the revitalization of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation. She also highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Accra.

“Together, Ghana and Nigeria remain the engines of regional integration,” she said. “We must continue to lead with unity and vision.”

The two countries pledged to work even more closely across areas of trade, security, education, and culture, affirming that peace, not provocation, will shape the future of West Africa.

By Fred Duhoe

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