Ghana's government has expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in South Africa, where anti-immigrant sentiment has been on the rise. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana's mission in Pretoria has submitted a report describing the situation as "quite dire." The minister said the developments were partly linked to a recent ruling by South Africa's apex court concerning asylum seekers.
The Ghanaian government has not ruled out further evacuations of its citizens from South Africa if the situation continues to deteriorate. Mr. Ablakwa stated that the ministry's Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau was closely monitoring the situation and assessing the welfare of Ghanaians who might need support. He emphasized that the government would intervene if renewed violence placed Ghanaian nationals at risk.
Since last year, Ghana has evacuated over 6,300 citizens from distress situations across the world, including citizens brought home from Libya, Myanmar, and Cambodia. In a recent exercise, 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated from South Africa. The minister said Ghana's 72 diplomatic missions worldwide were actively monitoring the welfare of citizens in their respective host countries.
The Ghanaian government has petitioned the African Union (AU) over the attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. According to Mr. Ablakwa, the continental body has responded and indicated that the matter would be discussed at its next summit in January 2027. He declined to comment extensively on the latest incident in South Africa, citing the need to avoid prejudicing discussions expected to take place at the summit.
Mr. Ablakwa called on South African authorities to take stronger measures to prevent further attacks against foreign nationals and ensure the safety of migrants living in the country. The minister emphasized that Ghana remained prepared to evacuate more of its citizens from South Africa should the security situation deteriorate.
The recent violence in South Africa has raised concerns about the safety of migrants living in the country. Ghana's High Commission has warned its nationals in South Africa to exercise caution, particularly in areas experiencing protests and violence. The Ghanaian government has urged its citizens to remain vigilant and to follow local advice.
The situation in South Africa remains volatile, with ongoing concerns about anti-immigrant sentiment and violence. The African Union has pledged to discuss the matter at its next summit, and Ghana continues to monitor the situation closely. KEY_POINT: Ghana is prepared to evacuate more citizens from South Africa if the security situation worsens. KEY_POINT: Over 6,300 Ghanaians have been evacuated from distress situations worldwide since last year. KEY_POINT: The African Union will discuss the attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa at its next summit in January 2027.
