The movement of Ghanaian migrants into Nigeria during the late 1970s was one of the most significant population shifts in West African history. As Nigeria’s oil boom accelerated, the country became a magnet for workers from across the region, particularly from Ghana, where economic hardship, inflation, and political instability under the Acheampong military regime pushed many citizens to seek better prospects. Lagos, then Nigeria’s commercial hub, quickly became the primary destination, drawing thousands who hoped to rebuild their lives through the city’s expanding labour opportunities.
In contrast, Ghana faced economic difficulties, with declining cocoa prices, inflation, shortages of essential goods, and political instability under General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong’s military regime, which created widespread hardship for many Ghanaians. These conditions prompted many citizens to seek work abroad.
The economic divergence between the two countries made Nigeria an attractive destination for Ghanaian migrants during the late 1970s and early 1980s, as it offered more opportunities for stable employment and income.
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Patterns of Migration
Between 1974 and the early 1980s, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians migrated to Nigeria, seeking employment in the expanding urban economy.
Most migrants were unskilled or semi-skilled workers, employed as labourers, artisans, truck drivers, port workers, and traders. Migration was facilitated by geographic proximity, shared language, and affordable travel. Estimates suggest that up to 300 Ghanaians per day entered Nigeria during the early 1980s, reflecting the scale of migration at the time.
Contrary to some claims, the majority of migrants were not high-skilled professionals such as doctors or engineers, and their migration primarily met the demand for labour in construction, transport, port operations, and informal trade rather than professional sectors.
Economic and Social Impact
Impact on Nigeria
Ghanaian migrants contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economy during the oil boom, filling labour shortages and sustaining urban expansion. They were employed in critical sectors, including construction, logistics, ports, and informal commerce, supporting both industrial and urban growth.
Most migrants were undocumented or semi-formally employed, and while their contribution was substantial, their lack of formal recognition made them vulnerable to sudden policy changes and economic downturns.
Impact on Ghana
For Ghana, the emigration of working-age adults relieved domestic labour pressures and provided remittances that supported families.
The return of migrants in the early 1980s, following Nigeria’s expulsions, had both challenges and benefits. Returnees contributed labour to agriculture and community projects, helping mitigate food shortages and supporting local economic recovery during a period of national crisis.
The 1983 Expulsions: “Ghana Must Go”
By the early 1980s, Nigeria’s economy declined due to falling oil revenues, reduced government spending, and rising unemployment, creating a context of economic hardship. Migrants, many undocumented, became vulnerable to xenophobic sentiment and abrupt policy changes.
On 17 January 1983, President Shehu Shagari issued an order requiring all undocumented immigrants to leave Nigeria or face arrest. This directive led to the expulsion of a large number of West African migrants, predominantly Ghanaians. Estimates indicate that over one million Ghanaian nationals were affected, marking one of the largest forced migrations in West Africa during the late 20th century.
The expulsions disrupted communities in both Nigeria and Ghana but also highlighted the vulnerability of migrants who relied on informal labour and lacked legal protection.
Historical Significance
This episode illustrates the interplay between economic opportunity, labour mobility, and state policy, highlighting several key points:
- Economic Opportunity and Mobility, as the oil boom in Nigeria attracted West African migrants, especially Ghanaians.
- Vulnerability of Undocumented Labour, showing how migrants without formal recognition can be abruptly displaced.
- Return and Recovery, as expelled migrants contributed to agriculture and community development in Ghana, mitigating the effects of economic and food crises during the 1980s.
The “Ghana Must Go” expulsions remain a defining event in Nigeria–Ghana relations, and they continue to inform contemporary discussions on migration, regional integration, and labour mobility in West Africa.
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Author’s Note
The migration of Ghanaians to Nigeria during the 1970s and early 1980s was substantial and primarily labour-driven. Migrants supported Nigeria’s economic expansion during the oil boom, but many were later displaced during the 1983 expulsions. This history underscores how economic divergence, labour mobility, and state policies can shape the lives of migrants and influence regional relations in West Africa.
References
- Conduah, Aloysius N., “Migration and Social Networks: Ghanaian Migration to Nigeria in the 1970s–1980s,” Alternation (UKZN).
- Njemanze, Paul & Omon Osiki, “The Impact of ‘Ghana Must Go’ Returnees on the Agricultural and Community Development of Ghana in the 1980s,” Lagos Notes and Records (University of Lagos).
- Daly, Samuel Fury Childs, “Ghana Must Go: Nativism and the Politics of Expulsion in West Africa, 1969–1985,” Past & Present (2022).
