Ghana’s ‘Nigeria Must Go’ Protest Seen as Retaliation for 1983 Deportation, Says Media Strategist

The recent "Nigeria Must Go" protest held by some Ghanaians has sparked conversations about history, resentment, and present-day tensions between the two West African nations.

According to SOG Precious, a well-known Ghanaian on-air personality and media strategist at Starr FM, the demonstration was "a form of retaliation" for Nigeria's infamous 1983 deportation of Ghanaians under former President Shehu Shagari.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Morning Brief on Friday, SOG Precious referenced the wave of deportations that displaced thousands of Ghanaians decades ago, asserting that Tuesday’s protest was driven by historical grievance as much as current frustrations.

“It is a form of retaliation for what happened in 1983,” he said.

Earlier this week, a video went viral showing several Ghanaians marching with placards urging Nigerians to leave their country. Some signs bore messages demanding an end to Nigerian influence in their economy and communities.

Precious claimed that the protest was partly fueled by allegations of illegal activities, including prostitution, allegedly carried out by some Nigerians, particularly young women.

Responding to the protest, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, downplayed fears and urged citizens to remain calm.

“There is no cause for alarm,” she said, calling for diplomatic composure.

Similarly, Ambassador Demola Seriki, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, clarified that the protest wasn’t targeted at all Nigerians but rather at specific individuals engaging in disruptive activities.

“The focus is on tertiary traders and individuals who might be considered undesirable to the Ghanaian system or economy,” he told Arise News.

The term "Ghana Must Go" remains deeply symbolic for Ghanaians. It traces back to 1983, when hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians were expelled from Nigeria during an economic downturn, many of them forced to leave with their belongings packed into iconic red-and-blue checked bags.

That history now appears to be fueling a generational echo of resentment, even as both governments work to maintain peaceful bilateral relations.