Ghana has summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner, Thando Dalamba, following a series of alleged xenophobic incidents targeting Ghanaian nationals in South Africa. The move comes after Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed that a legal Ghanaian resident in KwaZulu-Natal province was confronted and told to return home and "fix his country". The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident in a statement issued Thursday, citing growing harassment of Ghanaians and warning of escalating tensions that have prompted advisories for foreign nationals to stay indoors. Videos circulating online in recent days appear to show Ghanaians being verbally and physically confronted, though no official confirmation of the footage's authenticity has been provided. During the diplomatic meeting, Ablakwa referenced Ghana's historical support for South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle and stressed that attacks on law-abiding migrants violate the spirit of African solidarity. South Africa hosts approximately 2.4 million foreign-born residents, according to 2022 official data, amounting to about four percent of the population. The country has faced recurring episodes of xenophobic violence amid an unemployment rate exceeding 30 percent, which has fueled social tensions and anti-migrant sentiment. The South African government has not issued a formal public response to Ghana's diplomatic action. Ablakwa said Ghana expects concrete measures to protect its citizens and ensure accountability for the incidents.
A Ghanaian resident in South Africa was told to go home and "fix his country", yet South Africa's envoy faces no consequences. The insult reflects a deeper pattern of treating African migrants as disposable despite their legal status and contributions. Ghana's appeal to African solidarity rings hollow when no regional mechanism exists to hold host nations accountable. Diplomatic protests alone will not protect migrants if economic despair continues to fuel blame.
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