Call to expel Nigerians is a terrible agenda fueled by hate – Economic Fighters League founder

Founder of the Economic Fighters League, Ernesto Yeboah, has described attempts by some Ghanaians to push for the removal of Nigerians and other African nationals from Ghana as unfortunate and contrary to the principles of African unity.

He said the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who championed African unity, would be “turning in his grave” over such attempts to force Nigerians out of the country.

Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Ernesto Yeboah stated, “If there are those who have breached our laws and we want to punish them, that is a different matter. But the blanket call for all Nigerians to be removed from Ghana is a terrible agenda fueled by hate.”

On September 22, a day after Ghana marked Founder’s Day, the Economic Fighters League (Fighters) staged a protest in Accra to rally support for a united Africa.

Yeboah also took a swipe at the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), which has consistently demanded that Nigerians and other African nationals be removed from Ghana’s markets.

He questioned why the same energy has not been directed at Chinese, Indian and other non-African traders.

He underscored the need for intensified public education and awareness around trading issues to ensure that Nigerian traders and their Ghanaian counterparts coexist healthily.

According to him, some Ghanaian traders are consumed by greed, overpricing their products, while Nigerians sell at lower prices to attract more customers.

He advised Ghanaian traders to stop “fleecing” Ghanaians and instead adopt fair pricing so that foreigners will not be seen as a threat.

“I am sad today to be a Ghanaian because it was in Ghana that our first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, led the campaign for African unity.

"He stood for a Pan-African vision. He wanted African unity, and he did not only live for it but also died for it,” he said.

Yeboah stressed that while those Nigerians who breach Ghana’s laws should be dealt with, this cannot be used as a justification to demand that all Nigerians be deported.