Ghana has declined a request for a state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid concerns over recent attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, diplomatic sources in Accra and Pretoria have disclosed.
The sources said the decision follows reports of renewed xenophobic violence in parts of South Africa, where Ghanaian nationals are said to have been among those affected.
According to the diplomatic sources, about 1,000 Ghanaians have already been repatriated from South Africa following the unrest, while a further 900 have reportedly registered to return to Ghana.
The sources also said one Ghanaian was killed during violence on 30 June, although the circumstances surrounding the death have not been independently verified.
A diplomatic source in South Africa told the Daily Graphic that the Ghanaian government considered it inappropriate to proceed with a high-level state visit while concerns remained over the safety and treatment of Ghanaian citizens.
“The Ghanaian government was deeply concerned about the safety and dignity of its citizens in South Africa,” the source said, adding that a visit could not take place “under the current circumstances.”
A separate source in Ghana confirmed that Accra had communicated its decision to the South African authorities.
The source said the protection of Ghanaians living abroad remained a priority for the government and that assurances regarding their security would be required before any official visit could be reconsidered.
According to the source, Ghana was also mindful of the security implications surrounding a possible visit by President Ramaphosa, expressing concern that heightened public emotions over the reported attacks could create an unfavourable environment for the South African leader.
The source added that Ghana had urged the South African government to take concrete measures to address the reported attacks on foreign nationals and to guarantee the safety of Ghanaians living in the country.
Neither the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the South African Presidency had publicly commented on the reported decision at the time of publication.
South Africa has experienced periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence over the past two decades, with foreign nationals often targeted during episodes of unrest linked to unemployment, crime and economic hardship. Successive South African governments have condemned such attacks, while insisting they do not reflect official policy.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
