Ghana postpones visit by South African President Ramaphosa
Ghana has postponed a planned visit by South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa as diplomatic tensions rise over anti-immigrant protests in South Africa that have prompted the evacuation of hundreds of Ghanaians.
The visit, which had been scheduled for the first week of August, was expected to provide an opportunity for the two governments to discuss their bilateral relationship amid growing concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Ghanaian government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said Accra requested that the trip be delayed because of the current political climate.
“We sent them a communication indicating that it would be best to defer the visit in view of the present climate around xenophobia,” Ofosu told the BBC on Tuesday.
The postponement comes as anger has mounted in Ghana following reports of attacks and intimidation targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
A widely shared video showing a young Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, being confronted and told to “go fix his country” intensified public outrage and added to pressure on the Ghanaian government to respond.
South Africa said the delay would not affect relations between the two countries. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Pretoria remained committed to strengthening ties with Ghana.
“The two countries will continue to engage through diplomatic channels to identify a mutually convenient date,” Magwenya told the BBC.
He said the planned trip was the third in a series of bilateral engagements rather than a state visit, contrary to how it had been described by Ghanaian officials.
Ghana has repatriated more than 900 of its citizens from South Africa, with additional return flights expected in the coming weeks as authorities continue to assist those wishing to leave.
The unrest has also affected citizens of several other African countries. Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya have been repatriating their nationals after protests against foreign nationals escalated.
Some protest groups had given undocumented migrants until June 30 to leave South Africa, and authorities say about 25,000 people have been repatriated so far.
Ramaphosa has defended the right to peaceful protest while condemning violence and intimidation. He has also pledged to intensify efforts to address irregular migration.
Anti-foreigner sentiment has periodically erupted in South Africa for years, with migrants often blamed by some residents for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
Many Africans, however, argue that South Africa should not forget the support it received from countries across the continent during the struggle against apartheid and the transition to democracy.
