The King of the Igbo community in Ghana, Eze Jude Chukwudi Ihenetu, has clarified that no land has been acquired in Ningo Prampram, or anywhere in Ghana, for the establishment of an Igbo kingdom, dispelling rumors sparked by a viral video circulating on social media.
Addressing public concerns on July 18, Eze Ihenetu explained that the concept of an “Igbo village” was initially discussed in 2013 following clashes between Nigerian traders and GUTA.
He said the idea stemmed from a meeting with a Ga chief but was never pursued and will not materialize.
He accused bloggers of misrepresenting the video, stressing that his comments referred to an Igbo village, not a kingdom. He appealed for calm and urged the public not to fuel unnecessary tensions.
“They said we want to build Igbo kingdom in Ghana. That is 100% lies. You go back to that video, you see what I said is Igbo village and the Interpretation of village is different from kingdom. We have no plan to build any kingdom in Ghana.
We cannot build a kingdom on top of someone’s kingdom. It is impossible and as long as I am concerned, I remain loyal to this country Ghana and the entire Igbos in Ghana, we are submissive to the authority of this nation,” he pledged.
Eze Ihenetu also offered an apology to former President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana, saying: “Apologies to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and all the traditional institutions in Ghana for this fake news.”
In a strongly worded response, he criticized APC presidential candidate Hassan Ayariga for allegedly labeling him a human trafficker.
“Hassan Ayariga who was also painting my name black, I want to let him know that a leader does not talk like that. You cannot say anything that you have no evidence of. It is so cheap for him to put his mouth to say I’m a human trafficker. But I want him to put those things, those his evidence together and the time will come he will let me know how he’s saying that I’m a human trafficker. And you are giving the youth of the nation wrong information for them to rise against your fellow African brothers. So, my brother Hassan Ayariga, be careful of your utterances,” he noted.
The Igbo leader concluded by urging all Nigerians living in Ghana to abide by the laws of the land and avoid illegal activities, warning that anyone found culpable would face the full force of Ghanaian law.
