Xenophobic attacks: Boycott of SA products looms in Ghana

The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) is calling on South African captains of businesses both in Ghana and across Africa to impress on the Jacob Zuma-led government to “as a matter of urgency act to protect and restore within FIVE DAYS the tranquility, rights and dignity of all foreign nationals residing in South Africa.”

Africa’s second largest economy has been hit by xenophobic violence since last week, leaving six persons including one Ghanaian dead.

Though the South African government has condemned the attack, authorities are yet to bring the wave of attacks - which broke out in Durban - under total control.

On Saturday, April 18, 30 persons were held by the police after fresh xenophobic attacks broke out in the commercial capital of Johannesburg.

In a statement to condemn the attacks, BPS says if within five days the South African authorities are not able to halt the attacks, business interests of the country in Ghana and other parts of Africa will be boycotted.

“The Bureau of Public Safety will embark on a campaign for all Ghanaians and other African nationals to observe a boycott of all South African shops, products, and services in Ghana and the rest of Africa as a peaceful demonstration of our displeasure and condemnation of the gruesome killings, and ceaseless torture of our kith and kin in South Africa,” the statement signed by Nana Yaw Akwada said.

“This collective peaceful act should send the strongest signal to the South African people, and for that matter the Government of South Africa that we in Ghana are not unaware of South African economic interests in Ghana and other African countries; and that they (the Government and people of South Africa) must do all within their power to protect and restore within the shortest possible time the tranquility, rights, and dignity of all foreign nationals residing in South Africa.”

It also asked the Ghana High Commission in South Africa to take interim measures to ensure that no further Ghanaian lives are lost.

Meanwhile, security seems to have been beefed up around the South African embassy in Accra.

Personnel from the state security agencies have been stationed at strategic positions near the embassy, a situation that has been condemned by Ghanaian residents.

“Ghana is a peaceful country and we won’t attack them because a Ghanaian has been killed,” one resident is quoted as saying.