I have sighted a video in which some spare part shops purported have belonged to Nigerian businesses in Suamemagazine, Kumasi were ransacked and vandalized.
Also, I have seen a series of negative media reports in which Nigerians in Ghana are tagged as criminals especially in the recent issues of kidnapping in the country.
We must as citizens understand that crime has no color, race, gender, ethnicity or nationality. Crime is a crime and allege criminals must at all times must be treated as criminals within the remits of our laws.
On a daily bases, hundreds of Ghanaians are arrested for allegedly committed crimes. Imagine, the security forces classify all these arrested alleged criminals on the bases of their ethnic groups and therefore tagged a particular Ghanaian ethnic group as criminals, what will members of those getting groups feel?
Just as many Ghanaians are arrested on a daily basis for allegedly committing crimes same applies to Nigerians in Ghana. We must therefore not isolate those individuals who commit those crimes and tag their roots as criminals.
This development will never lead Africa anywhere but will further deepen our problems as one people. Africa must wake up.
Those who attacked the shops must be arrested to serve as a deterrent to others who might be thinking of doing same.
Also, I have spotted viral video in which a Professor from Nigeria is seen making some statement that does not in any way seek to bring solutions to the problem confronting both Nigerians and Ghanaians in the wake of these confusions. Those statements must be condemned and the views he expressed must be treated as his solely.
I must commend the Ghana Police for arresting him and cautioning him for inciting his nationals against the peace that exist between Ghana and Nigeria.
Africa, we have come a long way and must see each other as brothers and sister with common destiny to fight a common enemy “poverty and stagnation”.
I wish to urge leaders of these two great nations to bring this situation to control and restore lasting peace to sever as an example for other African countries to emulate.
-End-
Efo Korsi Senyo
Executive Director, Africa Centre for Peace Building
Host, Awake Africa Show
