Ghana urges restraint over death of Nigerian student

The Ghanaian Consulate General in Lagos Mr. Abdulai Abukari, has called for peace as investigations continue into the death of Godwin Anyogu, a Nigerian student who was murdered in Ghana last month.

This appeal was contained in a statement sent by the embassy to the Path of Peace Initiatives, a nongovernmental organisation, in Lagos.

The NGO had last month staged a protest at the Ghana Embassy in Lagos. Godwin’s family and other civil rights activists, who were present at the protest, had condemned the attitude of the Ghanaian authorities in handling the case.

Prior to his death, 19-year-old Godwin was a 300 level student of Economics at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Godwin was allegedly killed by yet-to-be identified friends for attempting to collect $5300 loan which he gave them.

A copy of the statement made available to PUNCH Metro and signed by the Consul-General read, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana, in collaboration with the competent Ghanaian authorities have taken the necessary measures to unravel the circumstances surrounding Godwin’s death.

“Ghana is committed to maintaining the existing excellent relations with Nigeria and wishes to assure our Nigerian brothers and sisters, who visit or reside in Ghana, of their guaranteed safety at all times.

“Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana has conveyed through the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, its condolences to the bereaved family and appealed to them to exercise restraint as the investigations continue.”

President of Path of Peace Initiatives, Mr. Dandy Eze, commending the gesture said, “It is good that they have written to us to show their seriousness in investigating this case. However, it is one thing to write a letter and another to make a promise. What we want is concrete action. We just want them to fish out Godwin’s killers. We cannot continue to watch while Nigerians are continually killed outside this country.

“Although the time we gave to arrest Godwin’s killers has elapsed, we still intend to exercise more patience to allow them continue with their investigation. However, if nothing is done, we shall do something more drastic than the peaceful protest which we staged last month.”