The Real Story of Ghana Must Go

On 17 January 1983, the Nigerian president, Shehu Shagari, declared the expulsion of an estimated two million undocumented migrants living in the country.

There is a popular bag associated with migrants worldwide. In Germany, it is called the Tuekenkoffer, in the US, it is called the Chinatown tote, in Guyana it is called the Guyanese Samsonite. Some countries call it the refugee bag.
This seemingly ordinary bag, known across West Africa as the 'Ghana Must Go,' carries a story far heavier than its woven plastic can hold. It's a symbol of a tumultuous chapter in history, a reminder of mass deportation and the harsh realities of xenophobia

Allow me to take you on a journey that will reveal the real story of how the bag called “Ghana Must Go” earned its name.

On 17 January 1983, the Nigerian president, Shehu Shagari, declared the expulsion of an estimated two million undocumented migrants living in the country. Half of them were Ghanaians. “If they don’t leave, they should be arrested and tried and sent back to their homes. Illegal immigrants, under normal circumstances, should not be given any notice whatsoever,” President Shagari said. Millions of immigrants with no papers were told to get out within two weeks or risk jail term. “If you break a law, then you have to pay for it,” said the president.

Cringe, right? Well, this story began long before the expulsion. It is the story of sibling rivalry, but this time, the siblings are nations.