By a Correspondent
Ghana has postponed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned state visit next month as diplomatic tensions between the two countries escalate over anti-migrant protests in South Africa that have forced hundreds of Ghanaians to return home.
The visit, which had been scheduled for the first week of August, was expected to feature bilateral talks co-chaired by President Ramaphosa and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
However, the Ghanaian government said it decided to defer the visit to avoid public backlash while emotions remain high over the recent wave of anti-immigrant protests in South Africa.
Despite the postponement, authorities in Accra stressed that relations between Ghana and South Africa remain ‘strong’.
Ghana’s government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu told Joy FM that the violence would likely have overshadowed the planned meetings.
“We sent them a communication indicating that it would be best to defer the visit in view of the present climate around xenophobia,” Ofosu said.
South Africa sought to play down the diplomatic implications of the decision, with presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya reaffirming Pretoria’s commitment to strengthening relations with Ghana.
He said both countries remain committed to deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing the African agenda, adding that diplomatic channels would be used to agree on a new date for the visit.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated following the circulation of a viral video showing a young Ghanaian living in South Africa, Emmanuel Asamoah, being confronted and told to “go fix your country.”
According to Ghanaian authorities, more than 900 of its citizens have already been repatriated from South Africa, with another group expected to return in the coming weeks.
The anti-immigration protests have also affected nationals from several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi and Kenya. Protest groups reportedly gave undocumented migrants until 30 June to leave South Africa, with about 25,000 people repatriated so far.
Ramaphosa has defended the right to peaceful protest while pledging to strengthen measures to curb irregular migration.
The diplomatic dispute intensified after Ghana condemned the alleged killing of Bahiru Isak, a 40-year-old Ghanaian national living in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township, during anti-immigration protests on 30 June.
South African authorities have rejected the claim, saying no such incident occurred. They maintain that the only Ghanaian national who died was 35-year-old Kwabena Boagen and that his death was unrelated to the protests.
South Africa’s Justice Minister has also accused Ghana of spreading misinformation about developments linked to irregular migration.
The dispute has further highlighted disagreements over the legal status of Ghanaian nationals living in South Africa. While Accra insists that most of its citizens possess valid residency documents, Pretoria disputes that claim, with neither government publicly presenting evidence to support its position.
In May, Ghana petitioned the African Union to intervene over recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa, calling for a fact-finding mission. Accra argued that attacks on foreign nationals undermine the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Analysts warn that South Africa risks growing political isolation on the continent unless it takes decisive action to address xenophobic violence and repair strained relations with fellow African states.
Xenophobic violence has periodically erupted in South Africa over the years, with some citizens blaming foreign nationals for unemployment and crime. However, many across Africa have urged South Africans to remember the support provided by other African countries during the struggle against apartheid and the country’s transition to democracy.
