A message circulating online claims Ghana’s government is set to clamp down on Nigerians living in the country without residence permits.
It urges Nigerians in Ghana to withdraw their money from Ghanaian banks and mobile banking platforms, “because from next month November 2019 all Nigerians who are not having Resident permit can not take their money from any bank in Ghana”.
The message also says Nigerians should make sure any businesses they own in Ghana are properly registered, to avoid losing their livelihood.
The message has sparked online debate about the treatment of Nigerians in other African countries.
On Nairaland, a Nigerian online forum with over 2.3 million members, users attributed the rumoured clampdown to Nigeria’s refusal to reopen its western border with Benin, despite a request to do so by the Ghanaian government.
But a statement signed by Ibrahim Abdulazeez, head of chancery at the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana, described the message as fake news and urged Nigerians living in Ghana to disregard it.
It quotes Olufemi Abikoye, the Nigerian high commissioner to Ghana, as saying: “Nothing of that nature was released by either the mission or any of the host’s relevant ministries and agencies saddled with the responsibility.
“On this note, the commission advises all Nigerians in Ghana to ignore the fake news and continue to be law-abiding citizens of Nigeria in Ghana.” – Allwell Okpi
It urges Nigerians in Ghana to withdraw their money from Ghanaian banks and mobile banking platforms, “because from next month November 2019 all Nigerians who are not having Resident permit can not take their money from any bank in Ghana”.
The message also says Nigerians should make sure any businesses they own in Ghana are properly registered, to avoid losing their livelihood.
Treatment of Nigerians in other countries
The message has sparked online debate about the treatment of Nigerians in other African countries.
On Nairaland, a Nigerian online forum with over 2.3 million members, users attributed the rumoured clampdown to Nigeria’s refusal to reopen its western border with Benin, despite a request to do so by the Ghanaian government.
Debunked by Nigeria’s high commission
But a statement signed by Ibrahim Abdulazeez, head of chancery at the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana, described the message as fake news and urged Nigerians living in Ghana to disregard it.
It quotes Olufemi Abikoye, the Nigerian high commissioner to Ghana, as saying: “Nothing of that nature was released by either the mission or any of the host’s relevant ministries and agencies saddled with the responsibility.
“On this note, the commission advises all Nigerians in Ghana to ignore the fake news and continue to be law-abiding citizens of Nigeria in Ghana.” – Allwell Okpi
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