You must be familiar with the saying “Ghana Must Go” from your childhood in Nigeria, Ghana, or one of the neighboring countries. It is the name of a common bag that people use to pack their belongings or carry heavy loads when they travel.
But have you ever wondered why this bag, known as a “Chinatown tote” in the US and a “Tuekenkoffer” in Germany, is referred to as “Ghana Must Go” in Nigeria and Ghana? Well, someone did not just sit down and come up with the name for the bag; Ghana Must Go was inspired by a true story that occurred in Nigeria back in 1983.
Ghana Must Leave Its Roots.
The federal government of Nigeria ordered the mass deportation of illegal immigrants residing in Nigeria in 1983 during the democratic administration of President Sheu Shagari because of the alleged atrocities many of them were allegedly committing there.
More than half of those deported were Ghanaians who had immigrated to Nigeria in the 1970s in search of a better life because Nigeria was going through an oil boom while Ghana was going through political and economic hardship at the time.
However, there were a number of factors—including the one already mentioned—that came together to result in the expulsion before the Nigerian government simply woke up one day and decided to kick out over 2 million Africans from Nigeria.
Since their independence, Nigeria and Ghana have remained close allies. However, during the 1980s, when Flight Lieutenant Jerry J. Was Ghana’s Head of State, this friendship was put in jeopardy. Alhaji Sheu Shagari, the president of Nigeria, and Rawlings.
Because President Shagari was close with Hilla Limann, the former leader of Ghana under Rawlings’ rule who overthrew his government, the two African leaders did not get along.
As a result, the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria deteriorated to the point where, in 1982, Rawlings alerted Nigeria to Shagari’s intentions to assist Limann in overthrowing his government. As a result, Nigeria stopped shipping crude oil to Ghana as part of a loan agreement. This conflict between the government and the populace persisted at the same time.
1980 Maitastine Uprising.
Nigerians were unwilling to accept the serious threat that foreigners posed to the country’s peace. The Maitastine Uprising of 1980, which was led by a Cameroonian expatriate named Muhammed Marwa alias Maitastine and resulted in numerous fatalities, ignited the situation.
Maitastine was an illegal immigrant, just like many of his supporters who were from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cameroon. After the Biafran War, this uprising is regarded as Nigeria’s second most tragic event.
The relationship between Ghana and Nigeria became so bad as a result that, in response to Rawlings’ alarm about Shagari’s intentions to assist Limann in toppling his government in 1982, Nigeria stopped shipping crude oil to Ghana as part of a loan agreement. As the government and the populace continued their feud, so did they.
Uprising in Maitastine in 1980.
Nigerians were unwilling to accept the serious threat that foreigners posed to the nation’s peace. The Maitastine Uprising of 1980, which was led by a Cameroonian expatriate named Muhammed Marwa alias Maitastine and resulted in numerous fatalities, ignited the situation.
Maitastine was an illegal immigrant, just like many of his supporters who were from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cameroon. After the Biafran War, this uprising is ranked as Nigeria’s second most tragic incident.
This deteriorated the Ghana-Nigeria relationship to the extent that in 1982, Rawlings raised an alarm that Shagari wanted to help Limann overthrow his government, and in response, Nigeria stopped the shipping of crude oil on a loan deal to Ghana. As the government and the populace continued their feud, so did they.
1980 Maitastine Uprising.
Nigerians were not prepared to accept that the foreigners there posed a serious threat to the country’s peace. The situation began heating up in 1980 when a Cameroonian expatriate named Muhammed Marwa alias Maitastine spearheaded a religious uprising (Maitastine Uprising of 1980) that led to the death of many people.
Like many of his followers who were from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cameroon, Maitastine was an illegal immigrant. After the Biafran war, this uprising is regarded as Nigeria’s second most tragic event.
Also worth noting is that the Ghanaian government’s imposition of the Alien’s Compliance Order in 1969 reopened a wound in relations between Nigeria and Ghana. On the grounds that Ghana was experiencing a recession, immigrants from Nigeria and other African countries were deported.
‘The Last Straw’.
The robbery at Ekwueme’s home was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. A group of armed robbers, mostly foreigners, held up Alexander Ekwueme, the then vice president of Nigeria, and stole his money. It was discovered that two of the robbers were from Ghana when the police apprehended them.
Nigeria as a whole went crazy as a result. The Nigerian government and the Ministry of Internal Affairs acted right away. The expulsion of all illegal immigrants from Nigeria within two weeks was announced by Alhaji Alli Baba, the Nigerian minister of internal affairs, on January 17th, 1983. Additionally stating in a statement was President Sheu Shagari.
“If they don’t leave, they ought to be detained, prosecuted, and sent back to their residences. Under normal circumstances, there should be no notice given to illegal immigrants at all. You must pay a price for breaking the law. “.
Because it was the Nigerian government’s least anticipated move, panic overcame all foreigners in Nigeria without documentation. Ghanaians numbering over 1 million were left indecisive and confused. Following the ultimatum to leave, it was rumored that the Federal government had given Nigerians the authority to confront any alien.
The foreigners were frightened by this and fled, both with and without their belongings. Those who were able to pack their belongings did so in the largest bag that was available, which just so happened to be the big bag that is now known as Ghana must go.
Critics from all over the world condemned this mass deportation. Many philanthropic organizations from all over the world denounced the action. The expulsion order, according to the US Department of State, is “shocking and a violation of every imaginable human right.”. “None of these convinced the Nigerian government to change the order. It is still adamant about getting rid of every illegal immigrant in the nation.
The “corruption-riddled” administration of President Sheu Shagari was also accused of ordering the deportation in an effort to draw attention away from its misdeeds in advance of an election. To truly divert Nigerians’ attention and secure their votes, the Shagari administration had to pull off a ruse.
Ghanaians left in droves because they realized Nigeria was no longer a secure place for them. It was a significant migration that had its roots immediately in the histories of Ghana and Nigeria. As they awaited crossing into the Benin Republic, where they hoped to find a ship to Ghana, the Ghanaians camped at the Seme border.
According to reports, traveling by land through Togo was much more convenient and preferable, but Jerry J. Rawlings, the dictator of Ghana, had shut the Ghana-Togo border after a failed coup attempt in 1981. In order to prevent refugee crises, Togo also locked down its border with Benin.
Jerry Rawlings, the military dictator of Ghana.
After some time, Jerry Rawlings, the military dictator of Ghana, opened the border with Togo, forcing that country to do the same with the Benin Republic and allowing refugees to pour in like water.
For the Ghanaian refugees, it was undoubtedly good news. They returned home to a somber welcome from family and friends. Additionally, Jerry Rawlings paid a visit to a few of them at Tema Harbour and assured them that his administration would offer support in every way.
Every bag that reads, “Ghana must go,” actually has a bitter backstory. The two nations have since put their differences in the past behind them and remain the best of friends. This is clear in the political, athletic, and entertainment industries in both nations.
History should not be used to exact revenge, but rather as a means of averting similar errors in the future. “.
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