Ghana has been a beacon of hope for most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its citizens are very proud of trailblazing political independence in the region. Incidentally, there are some acts its citizens regret to this day as they do not want to remember because it evokes shame, discomfort and regrets.
Becoming the first to gain political independence in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana became a safe haven for Sub-Saharan Africans who longed to taste the fruit of political freedom. Ghana attracted many immigrants across the region.
Ghanaians, led by their leader Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, welcomed their neighbouring Africans with open arms. This immigration of Africans into Ghana resonated with the vision of its premier leader of a united Africa. In good spirit and camaraderie, Ghana began to hold conferences and trainings to prepare their neighbours for the task of political independence. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, to help grow this bond among other African nationals and assist them in their quest towards political independence, set up The All-African Peoples’ Conference, The Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute, to make their quest a reality.
Ghana’s Immigration laws towards Africans were very friendly as they exempted many African nationals except for those in Apartheid South Africa.
“any person who belongs to an African tribe or is wholly descended from persons belonging to an African tribe, and any person born in any of the following countries or territories, that is to say, Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Sudan, Cote d “Ivoire, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, the United Arab Republic, and Morocco.” – Government of Ghana, Aliens Regulations, 1963, (L.I. 265), 6.
Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah immigration policy conformed with the African way of life before the European introduction of immigration measures, as he was in pursuit of African brotherhood. Even for non-Africans Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah was courteous towards their presence in the country, despite continuous pressure from some locals who envied their business success.
The National Liberation Council, which toppled Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s Government, were very hostile towards non-Africans. They perceived them as aiding Kwame Nkrumah in perpetuating his regime. The NLC introduced stringent immigration legislations which made it uncomfortable for African and non-African migrants in the country.
Also, the NLC swiftly laid hands on the companies of these non-African nationals and took over their operations. For example, Commonwealth Haulage Bulk Transport (British), Kalmoni and Co. Ltd. (Lebanese) and City Auto Parts Suppliers Ltd. (Lebanese) were taken over by decree of the NLC. This decree was devised to overtake these businesses, and it began to affect some African nationals, especially Nigerians.
The worst of these decrees was the Ghanaian Enterprises Decree. It permitted the NLC to hand over some 208 foreign firms to Ghanaians in accordance with Section Two of the Ghanaian Enterprises Decree.
This saw many non-Africans and African businesses leave the shores of Ghana. However, after three years, the NLC handed over the Government to Kofi Abrefa Busia. To please the NLC and project himself as a decisive leader, Kofi Abrefa Busia did the unthinkable which caused many Ghanaians to bow their heads. He introduced the Alien Compliance Order.
“…the first time in the history of Africa, a neighboring government drives out of its country fellow Africans like cattle and oxen in open trucks…” – Kwame Nkrumah’s Letter to Busia.
On 18 November 1969, Ghana’s 1969 Aliens Compliance Order was passed. This order repatriated from the country many illegal immigrants, the majority of whom were non-Ghanaian Africans. A directive was issued;
“It has come to the notice of the Government that several aliens, both African and non-African in Ghana, do not possess the requisite residence permits in conformity with the laws of Ghana. There are others, too, who are engaging in business of all kinds contrary to the terms of their visiting permits. The Government has accordingly directed all aliens in the first category, that is, those without residence permits, to leave Ghana within fourteen days, that is not later than December 2, 1969. Those in the second category should obey strictly the terms of their entry permits, and if these have expired, they should leave Ghana forthwith. The Ministry of the Interior has been directed to comb the country thoroughly for defaulting aliens, and aliens arrested for contravening these orders will be dealt with according to law.”
The Busia government’s decision is in the memory of Africans. The expulsion order affected close to 200,000 aliens from Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria.
Nigeria reciprocated in 1983 and 1985. Ghanaians do not want to remember this shameful precedent.
A picture of Ghanaians arriving from Nigeria in 1983.
Source: The Ghana Report
Your comments, contributions and suggestions are welcome. If you have images of this historical incident, you can share with me. (sbaidoo8@gmail.com)
Sources
Adjepong, A. (2009). The origins, implementation and effects of Ghana’s 1969 Aliens Compliance Order. Diss. University of Cape Coast.
November 18, 1969: Kofi Busia’s Government Announces the Aliens Compliance Order by EDWARD A. ULZEN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
Kweku Danso. “Letter OF Consolation to Dr. Kofi A. Busia–On The Couple In Ghana.” Feature Article of Thursday, 26 February 2015. Retrieved from http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Letter-OF-Consolation-to-Dr-Kofi-A-Busia-on-the-couple-in-Ghana-348100
