Nigeria and Ghana have agreed to deepen their partnership to combat all forms of xenophobia, Afrophobia, intolerance and violence against fellow Africans.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablakwa.

The two countries agreed that acts of violence against fellow Africans run contrary to the shared values of Pan-Africanism and the continent’s collective progress.

The ministers’ meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit, held from July 12 to July 19 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

They called for urgent, coordinated regional and continental responses to tackle the root causes of anti-African protests on the continent, protect the lives and dignity of African migrants, and promote harmonious coexistence.

They stated that criminals among the migrant population must be treated in accordance with the rule of law and not be subjected to violence or mob action, which often targets even regular migrants and other law-abiding African citizens.

The ministers agreed to deepen bilateral ties to ensure that Afrophobia is placed on the agenda of the next African Union Summit.

They committed 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.

Amb. Enikanolaiye appreciated Ablakwa’s prompt response to the request for an audience and commended the excellent bilateral relations between the brotherly countries.

He underscored the need for increased collaboration and strategic consultation between the two countries and emphasised the importance of preventive diplomacy, which will enable them to nip irritants in the bud before they escalate.

The minister further conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s greetings to the President of Ghana, John Mahama, and commended Ghana for championing Pan-Africanism.

He lauded the country’s calls for reparations for Africa and people of African descent, over the historical injustice they suffered during the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the colonial period.

According to him, Nigeria aligns with and fully supports the Conference’s decisions in the quest for reparative justice for Africans.

In response, the Ghanaian Foreign Minister expressed appreciation, congratulated Enikanolaiye on his recent appointment, and called for continued collaboration between Nigeria and Ghana during his tenure.

He aligned with the call for action-oriented preventive diplomacy, which could be achieved through brotherly communications devoid of bureaucracy.

The Ghanaian Minister also appreciated Nigeria’s support for the landmark UN resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and for the fight to implement reparative justice.

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

Abiakwa extended sincere regards to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, for the positive impact of the Nigerian delegation to the High-Level Conference, taking into account the statement and the commitment to the fight for reparative justice expressed by Nigeria at the forum.

The two Ministers discussed issues surrounding the recent Afrophobic protests and incidents targeting African nationals in South Africa, expressing deep concern over the resurgence of Afrophobic sentiments and violence.

Such acts, according to them, undermined 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).

The meeting reaffirmed the strong fraternal ties between Nigeria and Ghana and 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.

Both Ministers called for sustained public education and dialogue to combat prejudice and foster greater understanding among African communities.

The Ministers affirmed their commitment to continuing collaboration within ECOWAS, the African Union, and other multilateral platforms aimed at building a more inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Africa. (The Nation)

•Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablakwa.

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