Nigeria and Ghana have agreed to work closely together to address the resurgence of Afrophobic protests and violence targeting African nationals on the continent, with both countries pushing for the issue to be placed on the African Union’s agenda.
The agreement was reached on Friday, 17 July 2026, during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a press release signed by Spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa on Saturday, 18 July 2026.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye commended the long-standing brotherly relations between Nigeria and Ghana and stressed the need for increased collaboration and preventive diplomacy to address tensions before they escalate. He also conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s greetings to Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama.
He further commended Ghana for championing Pan-Africanism and reparations for Africa and people of African descent for historical injustices of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and colonialism.
Enikanolaiye congratulated President Mahama on the landmark UN resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Ghana’s hosting of the Next Steps High-Level Conference, stating that Nigeria aligns with and supports the conference’s decisions on reparative justice.
In response, Minister Ablakwa called for continuous collaboration between both countries and backed action-oriented preventive diplomacy through direct, brotherly communication. He appreciated Nigeria’s support for the UN resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and efforts toward reparative justice.
Ablakwa also noted apologies received from the Pope, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, and ongoing restitution efforts in several European countries, including France’s repeal of the Code Noir.
Condemnation of Afrophobia and Call for AU Action
The two ministers held frank discussions on recent Afrophobic incidents and protests targeting African nationals, particularly in South Africa. They expressed deep concern that such acts undermine African unity, solidarity, free movement of persons, and regional integration as enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act and the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
Both sides condemned all forms of xenophobia, Afrophobia, intolerance, and violence against fellow Africans, describing them as contrary to Pan-African values.
They stressed that while criminals among migrant populations must face the law, they should not be subjected to mob violence that also targets regular, law-abiding African citizens.
To address this, the ministers agreed to work together to ensure Afrophobia is placed on the agenda of the next African Union Summit. They committed to collaborating with other like-minded AU Member States to advocate for stronger mechanisms, including enhanced monitoring, early warning systems, and preventive diplomacy.
The meeting also called on all AU Member States to recommit to Pan-Africanism, mutual respect, and free movement, while encouraging public education and dialogue to combat prejudice.
Nigeria and Ghana reiterated resolve to continue collaborating within ECOWAS, the African Union, and other multilateral platforms to build a more inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.
