Nigeria, Ghana Pledge Joint Action Against Afrophobia

Nigeria and Ghana have agreed to collaborate and strategise to prevent crises from escalating in Africa following recent Afrophobic protests and incidents targeting African nationals in South Africa.

A statement signed by Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, in Abuja on Saturday, noted that the agreement was reached during a meeting between the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the sidelines of the ongoing ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Friday.

Enikanolaiye underscored the need for increased collaboration and strategic consultation between both countries and buttressed the need for preventive diplomacy, which will enable both countries to nip irritants in the bud before they escalate.

Both ministers expressed deep concern over the resurgence of Afrophobic sentiments and violence, noting that such acts undermine the ideals of African unity, solidarity, free movement of persons, and regional integration as enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

They condemned all forms of xenophobia, Afrophobia, intolerance, and violence against fellow Africans, emphasising that such acts are contrary to the shared values of Pan-Africanism and the collective progress of the continent.

They underscored the need for urgent, coordinated regional and continental responses to address the root causes of these tensions, protect the lives and dignity of African migrants, and promote harmonious coexistence.

The ministers stressed that criminals among migrant populations must be treated in accordance with the rule of law and not be subjected to violence and mob actions that often target even regular migrants and other law-abiding African citizens.

They then agreed to work closely together to ensure that the issue of Afrophobia is placed on the agenda of the next African Union Summit, while committing to collaborating with other like-minded member states to advocate for stronger mechanisms within the African Union framework, including enhanced monitoring, early warning systems, and preventive diplomacy to avert future occurrences.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong fraternal ties between Nigeria and Ghana as both Ministers further called on all Member States of the African Union to recommit themselves to the principles of Pan-Africanism, mutual respect, and the free movement of persons, while encouraging sustained public education and dialogue to combat prejudice and foster greater understanding among African communities.

Enikanolaiye commended Ghana for championing Pan-Africanism and reparations for Africa and people of African descent for the historical injustice they suffered during the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the colonial period.

He also congratulated the Ghanian President, John Dramani Mahama, on the landmark UN resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the recent hosting of the Next Steps High-Level Conference on the same matter.

He informed that Nigeria aligns with and fully supports the decisions of the conference in the quest for reparative justice for Africans.

The Ghanaian Foreign Minister, in his response, appreciated and congratulated Ambassador Enikanolaiye on his recent appointment and called for continuous collaboration between Nigeria and Ghana during his tenure.

He expressed his alignment with the need for action-oriented preventive diplomacy, which could be achieved through brotherly communications devoid of bureaucracy.

On his part, Honourable Samuel Ablakwa appreciated the support of Nigeria for the landmark UN resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and in the fight for the implementation of the reparative justice.

He informed of the official apologies so far received from the Pope, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, including the encouraging efforts on restitution of artefacts from several European countries, including the repeal of Code Noir and the formation of institutions in support of reparative justice in France.

While extending his sincere regards to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, he acknowledged the positive impact of the Nigerian delegation to the conference, taking into cognisance the statement and the commitment to the fight for reparative justice expressed by Nigeria at the forum.