Ghana Declines Proposed State Visit by South African President Ramaphosa Over Xenophobia Concerns
The Government of Ghana has declined a proposed state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, citing growing concerns over recent xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaians and other African migrants in South Africa.
According to diplomatic sources, the decision follows a wave of anti-foreigner violence that has led to the repatriation of hundreds of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa. Ghanaian authorities said proceeding with a high-level state visit under the current circumstances would be inappropriate while concerns over the safety of their citizens remain unresolved.The situation has further strained diplomatic relations between the two countries after reports that a Ghanaian national was killed during the recent unrest.
However, South African authorities have disputed claims that the death was directly linked to the anti-migrant protests, saying investigations indicate the incident occurred under different circumstances.Despite the decision to decline the proposed visit, Ghana maintained that its relationship with South Africa remains important and expressed its willingness to continue diplomatic engagement once the security concerns affecting Ghanaian citizens are adequately addressed.The development comes amid renewed concerns across Africa over rising anti-migrant violence in parts of South Africa. Several African governments have urged their citizens to remain vigilant, while regional leaders continue to call for measures to protect foreign nationals and prevent further attacks.
