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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Ghana summons South Africa envoy over xenophobic incidents

From The Punch · (Apr 24) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Ghana has summoned South Africa's envoy over alleged xenophobic incidents targeting Ghanaian migrants.
  • The incidents include a Ghanaian legal migrant being told to leave South Africa and

The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria

a legal resident was confronted… (and) instructed to leave South Africa and ‘fix his country,'

— Samuel Okudzeto AblakwaDescribing an incident in KwaZulu-Natal province where a Ghanaian migrant was harassed.

The recent spate of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which has seen Ghanaian migrants harassed and told to "fix their country," is a deeply concerning development that demands urgent attention. Ghana's summoning of the South African envoy underscores the seriousness of these incidents and the diplomatic strain they are creating.

escalating tensions, with foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, being advised to remain indoors for their safety

— Ghana's Foreign MinistryWarning about the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa.

South Africa, once a beacon of hope and a destination for African workers seeking opportunity, is now grappling with high unemployment, which appears to be fueling a disturbing rise in anti-migrant sentiment. The harassment of legal migrants, such as the Ghanaian national in KwaZulu-Natal, is not only a violation of basic human dignity but also a betrayal of the principles of African solidarity that Ghana's Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, rightly invoked.

Ghana’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle

— Samuel Okudzeto AblakwaStated during his meeting with South Africa’s acting high commissioner.

These unprovoked attacks on law-abiding individuals are unacceptable and run counter to the spirit of unity and cooperation that should define our continent. Ghana's firm stance sends a clear message that such xenophobic behavior will not be tolerated. The safety and dignity of all African nationals must be paramount, and South Africa has a responsibility to ensure this.

emphasised that the unprovoked harassment and attacks on law-abiding individuals are contrary to the principles of African solidarity

— Samuel Okudzeto AblakwaStated during his meeting with South Africa’s acting high commissioner.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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