Ghana Must Go , was a popular name given to the migration of illegal Migrants (mostly Ghanaians) from Nigeria following a Presidential executive order . In  1983, the President of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari issued an executive order mandating immigrants without proper immigration documents to leave the country or they would be arrested according to the law. The order was in alleged response to the religious disturbances that had engulfed parts of the country in 1980 ( Kano 1980 Riots) and 1981. Most of the immigrants were West Africans and mainly Ghanaians. Over 2 million men, women and children were affected . This is part of a recurring incident in West Africa, where immigrants are expelled for various reasons . Examples of such directives within West African countries include deportations from Ghana of Nigerians in 1954, Cote d'ivore deportation of Togolese, Dahomeyans and Nigerians in 1958, and deportation of aliens (mostly Nigerians) from Ghana in 1969. Over 1 Million Ghanaians and other west Africans were affected by the order. These Migrants were mostly attracted to Nigeria because of the oil market of the 70's, but in 1983 when the "Ghana Must Go" revolution started, the economy had weakened and was fast falling apart. It was also the election year. The major route to Ghana was through the West passing through Benin and Togo. Once the migrants got to Benin, the way out was restricted. Those who had already made it to Benin were stuck in the port of Cotonou, the capital city of Benin, with hopes of getting a boat to Ghana. The problems they experienced didn't end there, because due to an attempted coup the previous year, Ghana's president Jerry Rawlings had closed the main land crossing with Togo to avoid the sudden arrival of over 1 Million people. Togo then also shut its borders with Benin. The Ghanaian immigrants were stranded for weeks, thereafter the Ghanaian authority opened their borders causing Togo to also open theirs, for the Ghanaian to have access back home. The relationship between Nigeria and Ghana has since been strengthened . Ghana Must Go Bag A type of cheap matted woven nylon zipped tote bags, used by the migrants to move their belongings  got the moniker "Ghana must go " during the migration. As of 2019 , the bag is still commonly referred to with this name in most parts of Nigeria, Ghana, and certain parts of West Africa The  bag has a variety of names worldwide in Germany it is called the " Tuerkenkoffer " (Turkish suitcase), in the USA, it is called the "Chinatown tote", in Guyana it is called the "Guyanese Samsonite" and the "Refugee Bag" in various places around the world. See also Kano 1980 riot
Ghana Must Go was a popular name given to the migration of illegal migrants (mostly Ghanaians) from Nigeria following a presidential executive order in 1983. In January 1983, the President of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari issued an executive order mandating immigrants without proper immigration documents to leave the country or they would be arrested according to the law. The order was in alleged response to the religious disturbances that had engulfed parts of the country in 1980 ( the Kano Riots) and 1981. Most of the immigrants were West Africans and mainly Ghanaians. Over 2 million men, women and children were affected , including over 1 million Ghanaians and other West Africans. Most had been attracted to Ghana because of the 1970s oil boom, but by 1983 the economy had weakened and it was an election year. Expulsions of immigrants have occurred several times in West Africa, for various reasons , including deportations from Ghana of Nigerians in 1954, from Côte d'Ivoire of Togolese, Dahomeyans and Nigerians in 1958, and of aliens (mostly Nigerians) from Ghana in 1969. The primary route to Ghana was westwards, passing through Benin and Togo. Because of an attempted coup the previous year, the President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, had closed the main land crossing with Togo , and to avoid a sudden influx of returnees, Togo then also shut its borders with Benin. Therefore, once the migrants reached Benin, the way out was restricted and they were forced to remain in the port of Cotonou, the country's seat of government, attempting to find a boat to Ghana. After they had been stranded for more than a week, Ghana reopened its borders, causing Togo to do likewise so that the Ghanaians could return home. The relationship between Nigeria and Ghana has since improved . Ghana Must Go bag A type of cheap matted woven nylon zipped tote bags, used by the migrants to move their belongings , got the moniker "Ghana Must Go " during the migration. , the bag is still commonly referred to with this name in most parts of Nigeria, Ghana, and certain parts of West Africa In 2020, New York-based Nigerian photographer Obinna Obioma used the bags to fashion clothing and other items in an exhibition on migration titled Anyi N'Aga ("We Are Going" in Igbo). Worldwide, the bag has a variety of other names associating it with migrants. In Germany it is called the " Türkenkoffer " (Turkish suitcase), in the USA, the "Chinatown tote", in Guyana , the "Guyanese Samsonite" , and in various other places, the "Refugee Bag" .
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,
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Migrants
migrants
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Presidential executive order .
presidential executive order in 1983.
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January
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Kano 1980
the Kano
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. This is part of a recurring incident
, including over 1 million Ghanaians and other West Africans. Most had been attracted to Ghana because of the 1970s oil boom, but by 1983 the economy had weakened and it was an election year. Expulsions of immigrants have occurred several times
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where immigrants are expelled
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. Examples of such directives within West African countries include
, including
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Cote d'ivore deportation
from Côte d'Ivoire
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deportation
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Over 1 Million Ghanaians and other west Africans were affected by the order. These Migrants were mostly attracted to Nigeria because of the oil market of the 70's, but in 1983 when the "Ghana Must Go" revolution started, the economy had weakened and was fast falling apart. It was also the election year.
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The major
The primary
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through the West
westwards,
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Once the migrants got to Benin, the way out was restricted. Those who had already made it to Benin were stuck in the port of Cotonou, the capital city of Benin, with hopes of getting a boat to Ghana. The problems they experienced didn't end there, because due to
Because of
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Ghana's president Jerry Rawlings
the President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings,
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to avoid the sudden arrival of over 1 Million people.
, and to avoid a sudden influx of returnees,
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The Ghanaian immigrants were stranded for weeks, thereafter the Ghanaian authority opened their borders
Therefore, once the migrants reached Benin, the way out was restricted and they were forced to remain in the port of Cotonou, the country's seat of government, attempting to find a boat to Ghana. After they had been stranded for more than a week, Ghana reopened its borders,
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also open theirs, for the Ghanaian to have access back
do likewise so that the Ghanaians could return
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been strengthened
improved
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Bag
bag
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,
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must go
Must Go
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As of 2019
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The
In 2020, New York-based Nigerian photographer Obinna Obioma used the bags to fashion clothing and other items in an exhibition on migration titled Anyi N'Aga ("We Are Going" in Igbo).
A
Worldwide, the
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names worldwide in
other names associating it with migrants. In
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Tuerkenkoffer
Türkenkoffer
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it is called
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it is called
,
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and
, and in various other places,
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in various places around the world.
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See also Kano 1980 riot
.