Ghana-Nigeria relationship must remain cordial

Editorial News for Monday, September 7, 2020

Source: Ghana Times

2020-09-07

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The fraternal relationship between Ghana and Nigeria may not be the best due to recent events between the peoples of the two countries. Fortunately, the good news is that the two countries have stepped up diplomatic moves to re-establish cordial relations between them.

However, there is no doubt that Ghana and Nigeria have had a good cordial relationship with each other over the years, which is reflected in the number of Nigerians living in Ghana, conducting their business freely and vice versa. Not forgetting the mixed marriages between them.

In fact, were it not for the existence of artificial barriers imposed on the two nations by the colonial masters to keep the two countries apart, one would say that Nigeria and Ghana are one country.

Despite this man-made barrier, Ghana and Nigeria still maintain air, transport and sea connections that facilitate trade and commerce with each other on a daily basis, save for recent travel restrictions, following the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The fact is that Ghana and Nigeria together constitute the largest economy in West Africa and a force to be reckoned with in global, regional and continental affairs.

Both countries belong to the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, where they share similar aspirations and speak with one voice on the issues that affect their citizens.

Without a doubt, Ghana and Nigeria have a common goal of conducting socio-economic activities to promote the well-being of their people and lift them out of poverty, disease, hunger and deprivation.

But comparing the relationship with the teeth and the tongue, the teeth occasionally bite the tongue, but both organs of the body still live together. There is no way that the tongue and teeth can live in the adversary.

For this reason, we kindly ask both Ghana and Nigeria to put aside the unfortunate events that have occurred between them and continue to seek and maintain the good and cordial relationship between them.

In fact, what unites the two sister nations is greater than what divides them.

It is in this context that we consider the dispute between a sector of the population of the two sister countries as a matter that has become disproportionate, creating anxiety among the citizens of the two countries.

Therefore, we wish to ask the people of both countries to be very cautious when discussing the matter in public.

It is true that there have been some incidents between the peoples of the two countries. But Ghana and Nigeria are not at war! And the two nations cannot be blamed for the bad behavior of few people.

We are comforted that the two countries have inexhaustible diplomatic channels and avenues through which they can use to competently handle their affairs. We hope that the deliberations will be fruitful when officials from the two countries meet to discuss the issues.

The Ghanaian Times salutes the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, for taking swift diplomatic measures to resolve the perceived differences between the two countries, for continued good neighborliness.

With the establishment of the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Accra, the citizens of Ghana and Nigeria hope that their two governments will play a critical role in realizing the benefits of free trade on the continent.

We hope that Ghana and Nigeria will seize the many opportunities available to them and foster a very good cordial relationship in the interest of the people of the two countries.

Long live the Ghana-Nigeria relationship!