Nigerian migrants vulnerability under ECOWAS migration framework in Ghana

Abstract Migration has become one of the most pronounced global issues of the twenty-first century. Migration has been recognised as an essential driver for accessing economic opportunities, development, social upward mobility and regional integration. Hence, under the aegis of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), concerted efforts have been directed to pursuing policies such as the Free Protocol Movement, visa-free and borderless economic communities towards deepened regional integration. However, despite ECOWAS laudable initiatives, migrants in West Africa are faced with migration securitisation and new nationalism from their host states. Securitisation of migration connotes that migration is perceived as an existential security threat to the host state and thus deserves at least some control and, at best, stopping. Also, a new form of nationalism has endangered immigrant (non-citizen) activities in their host countries, especially with the prism of “son of the soil” versus “immigrants or strangers.” Both have resulted in the expulsion, deportation, and harassment of immigrants from their host countries to their countries of origin. Using the Nigeria-Ghana relations problem, the article explores the causes and crises attached to migration securitisation and new nationalism. The article also interrogates the ECOWAS migration framework within the context of its appropriateness for addressing immigrants’ vulnerability.