Ghana Rejects South African President’s State Visit Over Xenophobic Attacks

Fresh diplomatic tensions have surfaced between Ghana and South Africa after the Ghanaian government declined to host South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for a planned state visit, citing concerns over the safety of its citizens following the reported killing of a Ghanaian national.

President Ramaphosa had been scheduled to visit Ghana in the first week of August as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two African nations. However, Ghanaian authorities said the visit would not proceed until their concerns over the treatment and security of Ghanaians living in South Africa are satisfactorily addressed.

The diplomatic disagreement follows the death of 40-year-old Ghanaian fashion designer, Bashiru Isak, whom Ghanaian officials say was shot dead during demonstrations linked to renewed anti-immigrant violence in South Africa’s Khayelitsha township on June 30.

In response, Ghana lodged a formal protest with the South African government, describing the incident as a senseless act of xenophobic violence. The government called for a thorough investigation and urged South African authorities to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible.

South Africa has, however, disputed Ghana’s account of the incident.

The country’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, insisted that no deaths were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which attracted thousands of protesters in different parts of the country.

Kubayi also accused Ghanaian officials of spreading inaccurate information about developments in South Africa.

“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” she said.

She further rejected claims that the country was promoting xenophobic violence, adding, “The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable.”

The dispute has once again drawn attention to the safety of African migrants living in South Africa, where periodic outbreaks of violence targeting foreign nationals have, over the years, strained relations with several African countries and prompted repeated calls for stronger protections for migrants.

While both governments have maintained diplomatic engagement, the latest disagreement underscores the sensitivity of migration and xenophobia issues within the region and their potential impact on longstanding bilateral ties.