A Ghanaian, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has called on his
fellow countrymen to stop putting the label of criminals on Nigerians living in
the West African country.
Otchere-Darko, who is the founder of a policy and research
institute, Danquah Institute, made the call on his Facebook page.
He shared the front pages of two Ghanaian newspapers, where
stories on Nigerians were prominently displayed.
The headlines read, “Boy, 4, kidnapped…Nigerian grabbed at
Maamobi,” “Nigerians at it again!…attempt to steal 4-year-old boy.”
Sharing the photos, Otchere-Darko wrote, “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.
BY Gabby
Asare Otchere-Darko
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
0 Comments