Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has opened up about his worries over the direction Nigeria is heading, saying he prays every day for the country to overcome its troubles because its peace matters greatly to West Africa.
Mahama spoke in Accra during the 4th African Heritage Awards, where he attended as Special Guest of Honour and Chief Host. He used the moment to remind guests of the long history and strong cultural ties that bind Ghana and Nigeria, describing both nations as closely linked through ancestry and shared experiences.
“Ghana and Nigeria are twins of the same mother, except when we fight over Jollof and football. Otherwise, you know we are the same people,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
He explained that migration and ancestry, especially through Yoruba roots, have further tied the two countries together, making Nigeria’s stability something Ghana cannot ignore.
“A lot of the people in Ghana migrated from Nigeria. They find their roots in the Yoruba kingdoms and all that, and so Nigeria is of keen security interest to us,” Mahama added.
Mahama warned that with Nigeria’s huge population, any unrest there could easily affect neighbouring countries.
“If Nigeria does well, Ghana does well,” he said, adding that “When you have cousins, 250 million of them, you want them to do well so that one million of them don’t come drifting towards a small country like Ghana.”
He continued, “So every day I wake up, I pray for Nigeria. I say, God, let Nigeria get its act together.”
Beyond security concerns, Mahama urged African leaders to rethink how the continent manages its wealth, noting that global financial support is shrinking and countries must adjust to new realities.
“The world is changing, the global order is changing, and we must adapt. Humanitarian assistance is dwindling, and countries are reducing their official development assistance while increasing defence spending”, he added.
He also faulted the long practice of handing major resource concessions to foreign firms, saying it has widened inequality.
“Africa cannot sit with a cup in hand and go begging. We didn’t put the gold, lithium, oil, and gas in the ground. God gave it to us”, the President said.
Mahama ended on a hopeful note, saying Africa can succeed through unity, strong leadership, and better use of its people and resources.
