Ghana Group Calls for reprisal …as contagious ‘Xhenophobia Sickness’ hits Nigeria
By Philip Antoh
When officials from Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Administration, backed by armed security personnel, stormed the River Park Estate in Abuja three weeks ago, they didn’t just damage property and terrify residents. They also presented President John Dramani Mahama with a diplomatic test that could define his administration’s approach to protecting Ghanaian businesses abroad.
The target was Jonah Capital, a Ghanaian-owned company with significant investments in Nigeria. The operation, according to advocacy group Concerned Citizens of Ghana (CCG), resulted in the destruction of property, widespread fear among residents and staff, and an armed invasion of the estate’s Gallery Clubhouse.
It was the latest chapter in a dispute that has exposed the vulnerabilities of Ghanaian investors operating in Africa’s largest economy and raised uncomfortable questions about whether Ghana can secure the same treatment for its nationals that it extends to Nigerian businesses operating within its borders.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, CCG Convener Samuel A. Clark detailed a history of friction that has escalated despite high-level interventions. In 2025, he said, diplomatic and security interventions including from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police successfully restored normalcy after an earlier crisis.
But the reprieve was short-lived. About three weeks ago, the FCTA launched its latest assault, a move Clark described as “highly irregular” given the ongoing legal status of the dispute.
“The matter is currently before an international arbitration panel,” Clark emphasized. “No unilateral enforcement should occur while the case is under judicial and arbitral review.”
Perhaps the most puzzling element of the saga is what Clark described as a contradiction within the Nigerian government’s own approach. Nigeria’s Attorney-General had previously examined allegations of forgery leveled against Jonah Capital officials and found them lacking in merit. The Attorney-General directed the withdrawal of the criminal case, which was subsequently struck out by an Abuja High Court in January.
Despite this judicial clearance, another arm of the Nigerian government has continued hostile actions against the company. Clark also raised alarm over alleged attempts to unlawfully alter the company’s shareholding structure, alongside reports of assault and intimidation at the estate.
Clark drew a sharp comparison to how Nigeria operates in Ghana. Nigerian-owned banks and businesses thrive without state interference and freely repatriate their profits in accordance with the law.
He cited the 2020 incident where a building belonging to the Nigerian High Commission in Accra was demolished. The Ghanaian government took the matter seriously, demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting foreign missions and investments. Clark urged the Mahama administration to reciprocate that diplomacy.
· Investor protection: If Ghana cannot protect its investors in Nigeria, what signal does that send to other Ghanaian businesses considering regional expansion?
· Diplomatic reciprocity: Ghana has long been a welcoming environment for Nigerian businesses. The CCG argues that fairness demands the same treatment for Ghanaian enterprises in Nigeria.
· Rule of law: With the matter before international arbitration, the Nigerian government’s unilateral actions raise questions about its commitment to legal processes.
The CCG has petitioned President Mahama, the Chief of Staff, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to intervene. The group is pushing for immediate, high-level diplomatic engagement with Abuja to ensure a fair, lawful, and peaceful resolution.
As of press time, the presidency had not issued a formal response to the petition.
The Jonah Capital dispute unfolds against a backdrop of deepening economic integration across West Africa. The African Continental Free Trade Area, with its headquarters in Accra, promises to increase cross-border investment. But incidents like this threaten to undermine confidence in the regional investment climate.
For President Mahama, the case presents a delicate balancing act: protecting Ghanaian interests abroad without damaging relations with a key regional partner. How his administration navigates this challenge will be closely watched by Ghanaian businesses and investors across the continent.