Body of slain Ghanaian repatriated from South Africa

The mortal remains of Bashiru Isak, the Ghanaian national who was killed in South Africa, have been repatriated to Ghana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

In a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the Ministry said the government, through Ghana's High Commission in Pretoria and with the consent of the bereaved family, facilitated the repatriation of Isak's body.

The remains arrived at the Accra International Airport on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 6:40 pm.

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"Family members and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the airport to receive the body which has been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital", the statement said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further disclosed that the government and Isak's family have agreed to conduct an independent autopsy after unsuccessful attempts by Ghana's High Commission in Pretoria and the family to obtain an autopsy report from South African authorities.

According to the Ministry, the government remains determined to ensure that those responsible for the killing are brought to justice.

"The Government of Ghana renews its demand for justice. We expect expedited investigations, arrests and prosecution. There must be no room for silence or cover-ups in the gruesome killing of Isak," the statement added.

The Ministry added that Isak would be buried in accordance with Islamic customs after the independent autopsy is completed.

It stressed that the government would continue to pursue all appropriate diplomatic and legal avenues to ensure justice is served over the killing, inked to the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Isak was shot during xenophobic attacks linked to anti-immigration protests in Cape Town on June 30, 2026.

MORTAL REMAINS OF GHANAIAN NATIONAL KILLED IN SOUTH AFRICA REPATRIATED HOME

16TH JULY 2026 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to provide the following update to its Press Statement issued on 1st July, 2026, regarding the tragic killing of a Ghanaian in South Africa in circumstances linked to the current wave of xenophobic attacks in that country.

The Ministry sadly confirms that the deceased Ghanaian who was fatally shot multiple times in Khayelitsha, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, was indeed Bashiru Isak, a law abiding and loving father of three. This irrefutable fact is contrary to false claims initially made by some South African officials.

With the consent of the bereaved family, the Government of Ghana, through its High Commission in Pretoria, facilitated the repatriation of Mr. Isak’s mortal remains, which arrived in Ghana on Tuesday 14th July, 2026 at 6:40pm.

Family members and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the airport to receive the body which has been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital.

The Government of Ghana's thoughts and prayers continue to be with Mr. Isak's family for their irreplaceable loss.

The Ministry and Mr. Isak's family have agreed to conduct an independent autopsy, particularly as our High Commission in Pretoria and Mr. Isak's family have been unsuccessful in obtaining an autopsy report from South African authorities.

The Government of Ghana renews its demand for justice. We expect expedited investigations, arrests and prosecution. There must be no room for silence or cover-ups in the gruesome killing of Mr. Isak.

After the autopsy, Mr. Bashiru Isak shall be buried in accordance with Islamic customs.

The Government of Ghana remains committed to pursuing all appropriate diplomatic and legal avenues to ensure that justice is manifestly served.

The Ministry extends its deepest condolences to the parents, wife, children friends, and loved ones of the late Bashiru Isak

See the video below:

The Government of Ghana has confirmed that the remains of Bashiru Isak, the Ghanaian national who was fatally shot multiple times in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa, have been repatriated to Ghana.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Isak's body arrived in… pic.twitter.com/Yj9hzUzpte

— GhanaWeb (@TheGhanaWeb) July 16, 2026