Hundreds of Ghanaians stormed the streets of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, on Saturday, July 27, 2025, in a large-scale protest calling for the immediate deportation of Nigerians from their country.
The protest, which took place at the well-known Obra Spot in central Accra, was fueled by growing anger among some Ghanaian citizens who believe that the rising incidents of crime, kidnapping, and social unrest in Ghana are linked to the presence of Nigerian nationals.
The aggrieved protesters were seen carrying placards with powerful messages such as “Nigerians Must Go,” “End Kidnapping,” “End Prostitution,” “End Armed Robbery,” “End Fraud,” “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians?”, “End Murders,” “End Ritual,” and “Our Kids Are Missing Because of Igbos.” These slogans reflected their fears and deep frustration regarding security and societal issues.
One visibly emotional protester, a woman dressed in red, expressed her concerns loudly, saying: “Nigerians must go because you cannot be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow.”
In a video that has since gone viral on social media, protesters were seen waving the national flag of Ghana and chanting slogans that called for the expulsion of Nigerians. Many of the demonstrators argued that the growing number of Nigerian immigrants was endangering public safety and increasing fear within communities.
Another protester, seen riding a motorcycle, also expressed his dismay, stating that the current state of affairs posed a threat to future generations. “A time will come when even our children won’t be able to go out to buy something and return safely,” he warned.
He further cited a tragic incident involving the death of a Ghanaian official during a robbery in Abuja, Nigeria. “Just look at what they did to our mother at the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria. They killed her inside her car. Why, Nigerians?” he lamented.
Beyond safety concerns, the protest reignited long-standing cultural tensions related to the Igbo community’s influence in Ghana. Protesters particularly questioned the presence and authority of the Igbo monarchy in Ghana, directing criticism at Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu, who holds the title “Eze Ndi Igbo Ghana.”
“This message is for him: he should stop calling himself a king in this land ever again,” one angry protester declared, challenging the legitimacy of the traditional Igbo title being used outside Nigeria.
The backlash follows public outrage over the elaborate installation ceremony of Eze Ihenetu and the opulence of his palace in Accra, which many Ghanaians saw as an overreach.
In light of the growing controversy, the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria stepped in, issuing a formal statement to address the use of traditional titles abroad. The council, represented by prominent figures such as Eze E.C. Okeke (Eze Imo) and Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, abolished the title “Eze Ndigbo” for use outside Igbo territory.
They emphasized that the title “Eze” is sacred and must be conferred only through proper traditional rites within Igbo ancestral lands. As an alternative, the council introduced the title “Onyendu Ndigbo” for leaders representing the Igbo community in the diaspora.
The statement further warned that anyone who continues to use the banned title would be seen as defying Igbo customs and disrespecting the authority of the traditional institutions that govern Igbo society.