The Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra, Mrs Adekunbi A. Sonaike-Ayodeji, has asked Nigerians living in Ghana not to participate in any electoral process in the country.
She said any attempt by Nigerians to meddle in the country’s election constituted an act of criminality which could destroy the peace of Ghana and mar bilateral ties between the two countries.
“Ghana and Nigeria have built bilateral relationship in several areas spanning over five decades. We have become one family in all aspects. But, that is not a chance for us to participate in the election which is strictly meant for Ghanaian citizens. Do not try to register to vote or do anything that will disrupt the elections,” she said.
Symposium
Mrs Sonaike-Ayodeji made the call when she joined the Nigerian student community in Accra on Friday at a symposium to deliberate on issues concerning their welfare.
The symposium was on the theme: “Finding Solutions to our Students’ Challenges is one Way to Refocus our Future Leaders for National Development and Increase Integration of Ghana and Nigeria Relationship for Mutual Benefits.” It brought together Nigerian students in the country’s private and public tertiary institutions.
Background
The call by the Nigerian High Commissioner comes at a time the main opposition, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), other political parties, and some pressure groups in the country have raised concerns that the Voters Register had been compromised by the alleged inclusion of some foreign nationals.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has since engaged political parties and civil society groups on the best way to go into the November 7, 2016 polls with a clean and acceptable Voters Register.
‘Be obedient’
The Executive President of All Nigerians Communities (ANC) in Ghana, Mr Moses O.T. Owharo, urged the Nigerian community in Ghana to abide by the laws of the country, especially by staying off the electoral process.
“We had our election recently which was very peaceful. Ghanaians did not take part in that election. It is our responsibility to also ensure that Ghana have clean elections by staying away from any temptation to get involved in it,” he said.
Mr Owharo warned that any Nigerian who got involved in the electoral process of Ghana would be handed over to the police for legal action.
He said the Nigerian authorities in Ghana were engaging key state institutions such as the Ghana Police Service (GPS), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), National Accreditation Board (NAB) and university authorities to address key issues relating to the welfare of Nigerian nationals in the country.
Challenges of Nigerian students
Meanwhile, the Vice-President of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Ghana (NANS-Ghana) has observed that high cost of residency permits, harassment of students by landlords, stigmatisation of Nigerian students are tendencies that negatively affect the smooth relationship between the two countries.
He said some students pursuing various courses in some private universities were stranded because the institutions were not accredited by the NAB.
<<Print>>