In Search of pan-African ambiance for convivial Ghana-Nigeria relation

There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigerians in Ghana are concerned about their image and the kind of attention they are getting in the media and popular spots (newspapers stands, pubs, etc). It has been a panoply of reactions, depending on the sentiments and camp the discussants or interlocutors belong; mostly divided into three: pro, anti and the indifferent. Sometimes, the exchanges can be fierce but most always ended with some concerns for our shared ‘brotherhood’. That pan-African spirit, the ‘we are brothers’ sentiment as envisioned by the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, despite some glaring and despicable acts signaling the opposite, is what still keeps us together.  Indeed, Nigerians and Ghanaians cannot afford to go through the road once travelled: the 1969 ‘Nigeria Must Go’ and the 1983 ‘Ghanaian must Go’ options. We have come too far, closely knitted, wiser and the brotherhood is stronger now, than then; and technology is far more advanced too.

Pan-Africanism as a concept seeks to promote oneness or unity of peoples of African descent premised on the assumption that we have common interests and should be united in attaining these myriads of interests for the sake of Africa. As a movement, pan-Africanism encourages the solidarity of Africans (and peoples of African descent) globally, based on the belief that unity is vital to economic, social and political advancement of Africa and empowerment of the African race. These two views of pan-Africanism, as an ideology and as a movement, represent the core elements of the social capital values attached to the concept. In the present state of the Nigeria-Ghana relation, the ideological part holds sway. My motivation for penning this is to appeal to the ‘movement’ subconscious of Ghanaians and Nigerians. Unfortunately, the movement has to rest on the ideology to succeed; how long the parties in focus can hold on is what I can neither specifically say nor ignore, hence I have to speculate futuristically lest we allow crude xenophobic interchanges.

The fact, as it unfolds daily, is that some Nigerians are undocumented and are involved in crimes in Ghanaian towns and cities. The two variables, undocumented and crime, are enemies of thriving societies, anywhere in the world. Migration is a fact humans have to live with since the ‘hunter-gatherer’ period. Moving from one place to another is therefore expected within and between countries. Deviancy is also expected to lead many into crime world. But where documentation exists, then curtailing crimes and population of the undocumented becomes easy. What I have realised is that in migration related crimes, the undocumented are often the key actors because they are faceless. This explains the constant clampdown on illegal immigrants in the West, and in some African countries. The undocumented persons anywhere are faceless beings, who often leverage on their facelessness and greed to perpetuate criminal activities.

Sadly, the 21st century technological advancements do not tolerate faceless population. In fact, their values are hidden to national statistical indices (treasure or burden) thereby making national planning difficult. News item such as ‘’Canada needs new One million Immigrants by 2021’’ captures the place of planning with the population; hence, why should Ghanaian government be inhibited by some undocumented Nigerians in carrying out its statutory role? The crux of my point here is that the onus rests on the Ghanaian authorities to handle immigration and undocumented immigrants matters relating to Nigeria in such a way that we shall not be returning to 1969 ‘Golgotha’. In the spirit of pan-Africanism, a registration measure can be introduced with incentives; homeowners (like hotel owners) could be mandated to either report everyone living in their houses or face penalties, Nigerian High Commission and interest groups can be involved in this; like, I said, in the spirit of pan-Africanism.

Again, it is time Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities review their ‘Retail Business’ Acts. It should be reciprocal, in the spirit of brotherhood. EU states have similar reviewed regulations, we can learn from them. It is laughable that some could conclude that what happened in Suame (in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region) is mere ‘traders helping government to enforce trade law’. Far from it. It is a mix grill of enforcement and jealousy. I have watched the news clip several times and also the interactions at play while the attacks were on, it is obviously not entirely altruistic. The problems with condoning such attacks, “on behalf of the government” is that someday, these persons will  take law into their hands and kill “in the name of government”. That is against the tenets of pan-Africanism; brothers cannot be killing brothers without backlashes or familial repercussions. Hence, it wont be out of place for me to be unequivocal in condemning the security agencies for not checkmating the attack. Such brazen crowd aggrandisement and display of lethal attacks is not good for our image as Africans (especially to Ghana). We must learn to accommodate and correct ourselves while exposing those dealing in fake goods; I am cocksure those Nigerians accused of dealing in fake products have Ghanaian accomplices, both the Nigerians and their Ghanaian accomplices are criminals. Expose and let them be tried in competent courts for the sake of general wellbeing; and like I said, it should be in the spirit of pan-Africanism.

Finally, in the spirit of pan-Africanism, I want to specially appreciate those who have taken measures to douse the tension by reiterating our common ancestry as Africans and were frontal and objective in their analysis; those who took sides too, like Professor Austin Nwagbara (although he claimed the video was doctored), you have done no wrong but surrendered to emotion. Let me end this piece in honor of my late teacher, Mr Kudjoe. Mr Kudjoe lived in Nigeria in the 80s. He was a wonderful man. His younger brother, Kwame, who lived with him, at the time, was a known pilferer in our area. But each time he was caught and reported to his brother, our beloved Mr Kudjoe, his brother, will apologised and recite his popular line: “thank you for the respect you have for me, definitely all Ghanaians are not thieves, and are not all teachers, we have people like my brother (Kwame) and people like me”. Today, I understand Mr Kudjoe’s message better. Obviously, all Nigerians are not criminals and all Ghanaians are not saints; the Ghanaian media practitioners should note this vital submission in the spirit of pan-Africanism!

Adeyemi J. Ademowo of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, is currently an AHP/ACLS postdoctoral fellow-in-residence at the International Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Ghana, Legon