By DailyAgent Check
Claim
On December 1, 2023, the claim that the Federal Government had banned the use of ‘Ghana Must Go’ by travellers across Nigerian airports emerged on social media, especially on X. It has been posted by many influencers and blogging platforms but it happens to be misinformation which is still trending as of now.
The background
The origin of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags started way back in 1983 when Nigeria expelled two million West African migrants, half of whom were from Ghana who had come into the country without proper documentation and approval.
Most of the Ghanaians who left the country at that time left with their belongings in this type of luggage called “Ghana Must Go” bags. The untold truth is that this type of bag is not only being used by Ghanaians but the majority of Nigerians also use the bag for local and international travels.
The recent claims about the prohibition of the use of the bag for international travels by Nigerians is a testament that Ghana Must Go bags are widely used in Nigeria.
Daily Trust, a popular Nigerian newspaper claimed that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has prohibited the usage of travel sac popularly known as Ghana Must Go for travellers using the country’s airports.
Also, Nigeria Stories, a popular handle on X known for posting about Nigerian histories posted that Ghana Must Go bags have been banned by FAAN across the country’s airports.
Another X user, @FirstObidient, also made the same claim “JUST IN: Federal Govt Bans ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags in all airports nationwide.”
Verification
Findings by DailyAgent Check revealed that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stated that the Federal Government nor the regulatory agency banned the use of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags.
According to FAAN, Ethiopian Airlines is the operator that has announced the prohibition of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags on its international flights.
Checks on Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that the international flight operator is the company that prohibited the use of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags, not FAAN or the Federal Government of Nigeria.
According to the Ethiopian company, the restriction was being implemented as a result constant occurrence of damage to their conveyor belts at different airports resulting in significant costs incurred by the airline.
Verdict
Based on our findings, the claim about the ban of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags nationwide in Nigeria is MISLEADING—This is because the claim is mostly true but contains some deceptive elements.
