Samuel Oladipupo Essodee
The Nigerian Community in Ghana has cried out that they are suffering media persecution in the West African country.
They said the media in Ghana are twisting criminal stories against them, thus exposing them to attacks and official strains, to the extent that their children are now being dubbed kidnappers.
According to a group that identified itself as the ‘Concerned Nigerians in Ghana’, most of the crimes being attributed to Nigerians in Ghana were actually committed by indigenes.
One of the leaders of the group, who spoke with phenomenal.com.ng on condition of anonymity for fear of persecution, the story of some of the incidents that led to the arrest and killing of some Nigerians were manipulated by a majority of the Ghanaian media.
“Many of us are genuine businessmen here. We abide by the laws of Ghana. We pay our taxes and fulfil other obligations. Yet, if any Nigerian is alleged to have committed any infraction, they will report it as if all Nigerians here are criminals. Even in cases that Ghanaians mastermind such, they will not talk about that, they will only focus on the Nigerian and other innocent Nigerians.”
The source added that Nigerians were been branded “kidnappers” and other sought of negative names.
According to him, Although there are some negative elements in their fold, they are far fewer than those who genuinely do their business.
“Unfortunately, Government and other authorities act on the bases on some of the negative reports and that it is affecting our business. Let me give you an example: the media and stigmatisation we suffer has got to the level that our children are now being labelled kidnappers in school.”
Interestingly, some Ghanaians appear to be against the alleged persecution being meted out to Nigerians.
For instance, a Ghanaian, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, is reported to have called on his fellow countrymen to stop putting the label of criminals on Nigerians living in the West African country.
Otchere-Darko, who is the founder of a policy and research institute, Danquah Institute, made the call on his Facebook page.
‘The Punch’ reported on Tuesday that he shared the front pages of two Ghanaian newspapers, where stories on Nigerians were prominently displayed.
“Even where a gang of 4 Ghanaians and 1 Nigerian rob a bank, we are told the Nigerian either “subcontracted” or “recruited” the Ghanaians. Indeed, almost half of West Africans are Nigerians, so Nigerians are bound to have the highest number of both good and bad people in our region, on our continent. #StopCriminalisingNaija,” he added.
Although some Nigerians in Ghana claimed that Nigerian authorities were not doing enough to tackle the alleged syndrome, the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana has also raised an objection.
Just about two days ago, the High Commissioner, Olufemi Michael Abikoye, decried the situation the Ghanaian media allegedly dub Nigerians in the country as criminals.
Abikoye said in a press release on Monday that there was media trial of Nigerians even when then had not been found guilty by a competent court.
‘Prompt News’ cited a situation where five (5) Ghanaians in company of three (3) Nigerians allegedly kidnapped two (2) Canadians but the local media deliberately chose to report as if the crime was committed by only Nigerians, saying it ‘”leave much to be desired on the objectivity of such report.”
According to him, the daily negative media reportage “has caused untold pains, agony as well as apprehension to the teeming law abiding Nigerians living in Ghana.”
He added, “This set of people comprises astute businessmen, bankers, insurance brokers, teeming students as well as investors that are daily trooping to Ghana. Nigerians or Ghanaians alike stand to be condemned in its totality and punished according to the municipal laws of the land if found guilty.
“It, however, becomes terribly worrisome to take the actions of an insignificant few elements from Nigerians to criminalise and to unfairly or unreasonably canonise a brotherly country like Nigeria as a country of criminals who have come to disturb the peace in Ghana.
“The ongoing media trial of the criminals which was now being turned media trial of Nigeria as a country, calls for moderation on the part of media practitioners in Ghana,” he added.
Abikoye assured that the High Commission will continue to mobilise all Nigerians living in Ghana to obey the domestic laws.”
Recently, Nigeria deported some Ghanaians after the latter had done so not less than twice.
Both claimed illegalities on the parts of the victims as being responsible for the action, though Nigeria had earlier protested Ghana’s initial deportation actions.
