Xenophobic attacks ‘unfortunate’; protect our citizens, other Africans - Ghana to SA

The government of Ghana has asked the government of South African to ensure protection of all Ghanaians and other African nationals living in South Africa following the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks.

“The government of the Republic of Ghana views the xenophobic attacks in South Africa on African nationals and the looting of foreign and local shops as unfortunate”, a statement signed by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, said on Tuesday, 3 September 2019.

“The government further urges South African authorities to take all necessary actions that will guarantee harmonious co-existence between South Africans and Africans resident in South Africa.

“The High Commission of Ghana in Pretoria has set up the following dedicated emergency lines through which our Ghanaian nationals in distress could contact the mission for urgent assistance TEL: +271-234-258-47/8”, the statement added.

It noted that: “Since the renewed attacks on African nationals in South Africa on Thursday, 29 August 2019, the High Commission of Ghana has acted independently and jointly with the African Diplomatic Corps in insisting on the prevention of the recurrence of unwarranted attacks on African nationals and the looting of their properties.”

The government of Ghana, the statement added, “Wishes to assure the Ghanaian public that there is no confirmed Ghanaian casualties at the moment.”

“Our high Commission in Pretoria is monitoring the situation closely and any new development will be communicated accordingly”.

Already, the Ghana High Commission in South Africa has cautioned Ghanaians resident in South Africa to “be cautious and avoid places that are prone to violence.”

A statement released on Monday, 2 September 2019 by the High Commission in South Africa said: “The High Commissioner, George Ayisi-Boateng, had a telephone conversation with some leaders of Ghanaian associations over the weekend in response to threats on social media of a proposed attack on foreign nationals in South Africa”.

The mission reiterated the advice given to “leaders of the Ghanaian associations through the said telephone conversation that Ghanaians in South Africa should be cautious and avoid places that are prone to violence.”

It also urged Ghanaians resident in South Africa to “communicate early signals and potential threats to their leadership, as well as the Pretoria mission and the police”, and, further called on all Ghanaians living in and around perceived hotspots to be “on the alert, watch and monitor movements of suspicious assailants”.

Meanwhile, the Ghana mission says: "It is engaging with other diplomatic missions and the government of the Republic of South Africa to seek ways of finding a permanent solution to the unfortunate recurrence of attacks on foreign nationals in the country."