African refugee advocates have sounded the alarm over violent attacks targeting Nigerian immigrants in Ghana, calling for urgent government intervention.
The Asylum and Refugee Rights Advocacy Foundation (ARRA) condemned recent mob actions including looting and property destruction as violations of Ghana’s constitution and regional treaties.
Dr. Okey James Ezugwu, ARRA’s Executive Director, labeled the incidents “xenophobic aggression,” stressing that immigrants deserve protection regardless of alleged individual misconduct.
“These acts have no place in a law-governed society,” he stated, noting Ghana’s obligations under ECOWAS protocols and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The group highlighted that Ghana’s 1992 Constitution guarantees security, property rights, and non-discrimination to all within its borders. Yet shops owned by Nigerians were recently ransacked without legal recourse. ARRA insists accusations should trigger arrests and trials—not collective punishment.
Ghana faces concrete demands: prevent further attacks, prosecute perpetrators, compensate victims, and uphold ECOWAS treaties. ARRA also urged Nigeria to boost diplomatic support and emergency aid for affected citizens.
Still, the stakes extend beyond borders. “Protecting immigrants isn’t charity—it’s a legal duty,” emphasized Ezugwu, challenging African leaders to move beyond rhetoric. The group seeks AU and UN monitoring to address anti-immigrant sentiment’s root causes.
Imagine your livelihood destroyed overnight while authorities stand by. That fear now haunts Ghana’s Nigerian community as regional unity frays.
