This sturdy, woven plastic bag, usually blue and red, became a representation of a tumultuous chapter in Ghana-Nigeria relations, bearing the brunt of mass deportation and xenophobia.
His name is a reminder of a dark period in West Africa and is etched in the collective memory of both Ghanaians and Nigerians.
The Roots of Ghanaian Migration to Nigeria
The story begins long before the deportation. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Ghana faced severe economic difficulties. Dwindling oil reserves, high inflation and rising debt have led to a decline in living standards.
Many Ghanaians, in search of better opportunities, migrated to neighboring Nigeria, which enjoyed a booming economy fueled by its oil wealth. This influx, estimated at over two million people in the early 1980s, brought skilled labor and entrepreneurship, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth. However, tensions began to simmer. The sheer number of immigrants drained resources and whispers of competition for jobs and opportunities arose.
The 1983 deportation
In 1983, fueled by economic depression, rising unemployment and heightened nationalist sentiment, the Nigerian government, under Shehu Shagariissued an executive order deporting all undocumented immigrants.
Ghanaians, estimated to make up half of the target population, bore the brunt of this directive.
This mass deportation, euphemistically called the “Ghanaian Alien Compliance Ordinance,” forced over two million Ghanaians to return home, with little more than their belongings packed into readily available, cheap plastic bags.
As Ghanaians packed their meager possessions, the bags, emblazoned with the words ‘Made in Ghana’, were ironically branded by Nigerians as ‘Ghana Must Go’, reflecting the xenophobic sentiment that fueled the deportation at the time. Since then, these bags have become “Ghana Must Go” – a reminder of the violent eviction Ghanaians faced.
Through hardship and displacement, Ghanaians have become resilient. Many returned home and rebuilt their lives, while others found success in other parts of West Africa and beyond.
Today, “Ghana Must Go” bags continue to be used throughout Africa and beyond. While its name harkens back to the dark past, its practicality and affordability remain undeniable.
This content was generated with the help of an AI model and verified by the author.