Stop the anti-Nigerian stereotyping – Otchere-Darko

Danquah Institute founder Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has asked Ghanaians to stop labelling Nigerians as criminals.

Taking Nigeria’s population into account, Mr Otchere-Darko said: “Almost half of West Africans are Nigerians, so, Nigerians are bound to have the highest number of both good and bad people in our region, on our continent”.

He has, therefore, in a Facebook post, asked Ghanaians to stop the “anti-Nigerian stereotyping”.

“Imagine living in Europe, and waking up almost daily to headlines such as ‘Another Ghanaian Arrested’. That is how being a Nigerian in Ghana feels. Some of us have been saying this for years but with no impact. Stop the anti-Nigerian stereotyping! We keep reinforcing an unfortunate image that Nigerians are criminals. Even where a gang of 4 Ghanaians and 1 Nigerian robs a bank, we are told the Nigerian either ‘subcontracted’ or ‘recruited’ the Ghanaians. Indeed, almost half of West Africans are Nigerians, so, Nigerians are bound to have the highest number of both good and bad people in our region, on our continent. #StopCriminalisingNaija,” Mr Otchere-Darko’s post read.

Mr Otchere-Darko’s comments dovetail into Ghanaian actor John Dumelo’s sentiments.

The award-winning actor in a tweet earlier stated that it is "unfair" for Ghanaians to link Nigerians to every kidnapping case in Ghana.

In Mr Dumelo’s opinion, kidnapping is a despicable act and must not be linked to certain nationals.

Nigerian nationals have been linked to five major kidnapping cases in the country since August last year.

Mr Samuel-Udoetuk Willis, a Nigerian who is currently in police custody, is the main suspect in the kidnapping of three girls in Takoradi in the Western Region. A second Nigerian suspect, John Oji is also on trial for the same crime.

Three Nigerians and five Ghanaians were also involved in the kidnapping of two Canadians who were rescued last week in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Three Nigerians are also on the run in connection with the kidnapping of a Lebanese diplomat Nabil Makram Basbous, the Consular General and Head of Mission of Estonia to Ghana at Labone in April this year.

Some Nigerians were also arrested at Kasoa in the Central Region in connection with the kidnapping and killing of a two-year-old Ghanaian boy in that area also in April.

Additionally, some Nigerian nationals are suspected to be behind the kidnapping of an Indian businessman in Kumasi in April this year.

Just on Sunday, 16 June 2019, another Nigerian suspect was arrested at Mamobi in Accra for trying to kidnap a four-year-old Ghanaian boy.

Some Ghanaians on various social media platforms have expressed anger at the current trend of kidnappings involving Nigerian suspects.