Ghana has postponed a visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid xenophobic protests.
Ramaphosa had originally planned a state visit to Ghana for the first week of August – a meeting hoped to curb tensions between the two nations. After a wave of anti‑immigrant demonstrations that prompted the repatriation of hundreds of Ghanaians, the government decided to defer the trip for the time being.
"We sent them a communication indicating that it would be best to defer the visit in view of the present climate around xenophobia," said Ghanaian spokesman Felix Kwakye Ofosu. South Africa’s presidential spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, stressed the country’s commitment to “deepening cooperation” and an “advancing the African Agenda” between the two sister nations.
The row escalated when a viral video depicted a young Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, being confronted and told to "go fix his country" during a protest in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Ghana subsequently repatriated more than 900 of its nationals from South Africa, while other African states, including Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya, are also pulling citizens out amid ongoing anti‑foreigner demonstrations.
South Africa has alleged the killing of a 40‑year‑old Ghanaian, Bahiru Isak, during protests on 30 June, a claim Ghanaian officials dispute. The justice minister accused Ghana of spreading "false information" about irregular migration. Neither side has presented evidence over residency‑paper controversies, sparking a legal question that could undermine Africa’s continental free trade agreement.
Analysts warn that South Africa risks political isolation on the continent if anti‑immigration protests are not addressed. The country’s current stance follows a history of xenophobia, where migrants are blamed for unemployment and crime, even as many Africans recall solidarity during the anti‑apartheid era.
Additional reporting by Khanyisile Ngcobo and Natasha Booty.
