Ghana’s President John Mahama’s choice of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as the special guest of honour at his presidential inauguration ceremony in Accra on 7 January should be leveraged as a strategic opportunity by both leaders to turn a new positive page in Nigeria-Ghana relations. This should foreshadow the deliberate downplay of historic mutual prejudice and parochial negative rivalries.
In a heartfelt congratulatory message issued in Accra to President Mahama on his inauguration as the President of West African state, veteran pan-African journalist, Ben Asante praised returning president’s leadership and the progress Ghana continues to make under his stewardship, while also emphasising the importance of strengthening ties between Ghana and Nigeria for the mutual benefit of both nations.
Often described as cat-and-mouse, relations between both English-speaking neighbours had been dogged by tit-for-tat expulsions of each other’s nationals, intermittent harassment and closure of Nigerian traders’ shops in Ghana the authorities and locals, profiling of Nigerians generally both inside and outside Ghana by Ghanaians as criminals, as well as other forms of prejudice that are endemic and systemic.
Asante, who has spent decades championing Pan-African unity and cooperation, including consulting for different tiers of governments in Nigeria, highlighted the significant diplomatic gesture of Mahama’s choice to invite Nigeria’s President Tinubu as the special guest of honour at the inauguration. According to Asante, that decision marked a momentous step in fostering stronger Ghana-Nigeria relations, signaling a shift towards more strategic and positive collaboration between the two countries.
“It is no coincidence that President Mahama chose President Tinubu to stand by his side on this historic occasion. This gesture underscores the importance of deepening bilateral ties between Ghana and Nigeria, two of Africa’s most influential nations. I commend both leaders for their commitment to enhancing the diplomatic and economic relationship that has long been a cornerstone of the West African subregion”, Asante said.
His call for a new chapter in Ghana-Nigeria relations resonates strongly in the context of current African geopolitics, where the need for continental unity and collaboration is more urgent than ever. Both Ghana and Nigeria have immense potential to lead Africa into a new era of growth and self-reliance, and Asante’s appeal serves as a timely reminder of the power of cooperation in overcoming challenges and shaping a better future for all Africans.
The Ghanaian renowned journalist further noted that the relationship between the two nations, while historically rich, had often been marred by periods of rivalry and mutual suspicion. He urged both governments to use this moment as an opportunity to shed the long-standing prejudices that have occasionally fueled tensions and instead embrace a new era of cooperation and shared purpose.
“It is time to move beyond unnecessary rivalries and start a deliberate and intentional shift in how we engage with each other as two great nations on the African continent. The future of both Ghana and Nigeria hinges on mutual understanding, collaboration, and the strength of our shared Pan-African ideals”, Asante stated.
He urged both governments to harness the potential of their peoples, drawing attention to sectors where Ghana and Nigeria can collaborate more effectively for the benefit of both countries and Africa as a whole. These sectors include science and technology, healthcare, aviation, transport infrastructure, media, and human development.
Asante particularly emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation in scientific research and technological innovation, noting that both countries are home to vibrant academic and professional communities that can work together to drive progress. He also called for joint ventures to address challenges in healthcare, particularly in the areas of disease prevention, treatment, and medical research.
Asante also called for a united front in modernising the aviation and transport sectors, where both nations can play key roles in shaping a more interconnected West African region.
“By working together in these crucial sectors, Ghana and Nigeria have the potential to become global leaders in innovation and sustainable development”, he noted.
Emphasising the importance of people-to-people relations, Asante encouraged both nations to invest in cultural exchanges, educational collaborations, and media partnerships to foster understanding and tolerance among the peoples of both countries. This, he said, would serve as a foundation for overcoming historical grievances and building a future of peace and prosperity for generations to come.
For several decades based in the United Kingdom, Asante was at different times political editor of some of the leading influential pan-African publications based in London, including Africa Now and New African magazines. He also wrote for West Africa magazine out of London. Regarded as a versatile journalist around media and political circles in Africa and Europe, he travelled around most African countries covering events and conferences.
He is considered knowledgeable on Nigerian politics, having spent years in the country as well as working on issues around the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Asante is regarded in ECOWAS circles as one of two journalists whose writings shaped the bloc’s views on the civil wars, especially on Liberia.
President Mahama’s inauguration, he stressed, should not just be seen as a political event, but as a pivotal moment to reset and reshape Ghana-Nigeria relations for the betterment of their citizens and the broader African continent.
“Together, Ghana and Nigeria can be a beacon of Pan-African unity, peace, and progress”, Asante said.
