By Philip Nwosu
Dozens of Ghanaians on Tuesday staged a protest at the Nigerian High Commission in Roman Ridge, Accra, decrying alleged harassment, intimidation, and rights violations of Ghanaian nationals and investors in Nigeria by Nigerian security agencies.
The demonstration, led by Ghanaian investment firm Jonah Capital and its local partners, comes amid escalating tensions over the controversial handling of a high-profile real estate development—the River Park Estate in Abuja.
Protesters, carrying placards and banners, accused the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of sustained harassment of Ghanaian investors, including arbitrary arrests and repeated summons. They called for the immediate dismissal of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over what they termed as “targeted attacks on Ghanaian businesses.”
The protest followed a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the investors against the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police, and the EFCC, seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain both agencies from further interference in the River Park Estate project. They are also demanding ₦200 million in damages for alleged violations of their fundamental rights.
The demonstrators urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and former Ghanaian President John Mahama to intervene diplomatically, saying the issue has broader implications for foreign direct investment in Nigeria.
According to the investors, a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) earlier constituted by the IGP had completed its work and submitted a report. However, the contents of the report have allegedly not been disclosed, despite several formal requests, including letters dated March 20 and April 16, 2025, and a request from the Ghana High Commission on April 9, 2025. They also claimed that a senior police officer, DCP Akin Fakorede, head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, has reopened the case in what they described as an effort to reverse the panel’s findings.
Jonah Capital’s CEO, Kojo Mensah, was reportedly arrested and subjected to prolonged interrogation by the EFCC’s FCT Zonal Command in what the group claims is an unjustified re-investigation of matters already resolved through legal agreements dating back to 2012.
The protesters warned that continued intimidation of Ghanaian investors in Nigeria could strain bilateral relations and discourage foreign investment. They urged Ghanaian authorities to escalate diplomatic engagement to protect the interests of their citizens doing business in Nigeria.