The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Tuesday petitioned the Foreign Ministry to use its diplomatic ties to bring the South African High Commissioner to order for his "undiplomatic" conduct in connection with the recent launch of the Ghana-South African Business Chamber.
Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the GJA, said Dr. Magan Mmereki Phologane, after the incident, called the Editor of the Dispatch "threatening that any journalist who commented on the issue would never have a visa to South Africa."
She said the association wrote to the High Commissioner to retract and apologise but up to date "we have not received any acknowledgement from his office". Mrs. Affenyi-Dadzie said "this unruly behaviour" of Dr. Phologane undermines the good relationship between his country and Ghana.
Mr. Victor Gbeho, Foreign Minister, appealed for restraint and unguarded comments from the media until they establish what led to the misunderstanding. "I personally feel a little saddened that this state of affairs should show its ugly face between us and one of the countries we cherish so much."
He promised to contact the South African representative to establish what actually happened and to see how best to resolve it. Mr Gbeho urged the GJA to disregard the threat and look at the issue as a misunderstanding between two families.
Ghanaian Journalists who went to cover the launch of the Ghana-South African Business Chamber during the visit of South African president Thabo Mbeki were ordered out by the organisers
