In brief
Ghana suspended the August visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after a surge of anti‑migrant rallies forced over 900 Ghanaians to return home. The decision follows accusations over deaths and the legitimacy of Ghanaian nationals in South Africa. Pretoria denies the killings and insists the visit was a bilateral meeting, not a state visit. A dispute over documentation and a broader African migration debate now grips both capitals. Analysts warn that continued unrest could isolate South Africa on the continent.
Accra announced that the first‑week‑of‑August trip agreed upon by its leaders and the South African government will not take place for the present.
The decision comes after a wave of xenophobic demonstrations in the country resulted in the repatriation of more than 900 Ghanaian citizens from South Africa, with a further 900 expected to return in the coming weeks.
Government spokesman Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the postponement was a precautionary measure, stressing that “it would be best to defer the visit in view of the present climate around xenophobia.”
In Pretoria, spokesperson Vincent Magwenya described the visit not as a state trip but as a bilateral meeting, reaffirming a commitment to deepen cooperation between the sister nations. He also added that diplomatic channels would continue to seek a more suitable date.
The tensions trace back to a viral video in which Ghanaian national Emmanuel Asamoah was allegedly told to “go fix his country.” In a separate incident on 30 June, Ghana condemned the death of Bahiru Isak, a Ghanaian living in South Africa, while South African authorities denied a link to anti‑immigration protests.
Both sides dispute the accuracy of each other’s claims and the validity of the residency status of Ghanaian nationals abroad. No firm evidence has yet been presented by either side.
Accra’s petition to the African Union for a fact‑finding mission reflects a broader concern over the impact of these protests on the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. Analysts warn that without swift action, South Africa risks diplomatic isolation on the continent.
The crisis has also prompted several other African countries—Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya—to repatriate their nationals, citing similar fears of anti‑foreigner attacks. Roughly 25,000 African citizens have already returned home from South Africa.
Around this time, President Ramaphosa expressed that the right to protest is protected as long as it remains peaceful, while pledging greater measures to curb irregular migration.
