Xenophobic attacks: Ghana suspends President Ramaphosa’s visit – THISAGE

Ghana has suspended a planned August visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid the ongoing wave of xenophobic attacks and anti-immigration protests in South Africa, saying worsening violence could overshadow high-level bilateral talks between the two countries.

The decision, announced Tuesday by Ghana’s communications minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, marks a significant diplomatic rebuke to Pretoria’s handling of attacks on foreign nationals, which have triggered an exodus of thousands of migrants and escalated tensions across the continent.

Ofosu said the Government of Ghana had formally informed South Africa through diplomatic channels that it would be best to postpone the visit until the security situation improved.

“We have sent a diplomatic communication to the South African government telling them that we believe it is best to postpone the visit,” the minister said in an interview with Joy FM.

The meeting, originally scheduled for August in Accra, was described by Ghana as a state visit by President Ramaphosa. South Africa, however, maintained that this was an official commitment centered on the Binational Commission for Cooperation between the two countries.

While he stressed that Ghana attaches great importance to its long-standing relationship with South Africa, Ofosu said continued violence against foreign nationals will inevitably dominate discussions and undermine the objectives of the visit.

“We value the relationship we have with South Africa,” he said, adding that recent attacks may “overshadow” the priorities of the intended engagement.

The South African Presidency confirmed that it had received Ghana’s request to postpone the meeting of the Binational Commission, but said that the diplomatic communication was not accompanied by any detailed explanation.

The postponement comes amid weeks of anti-immigration demonstrations in parts of South Africa, where protesters have accused undocumented migrants of taking jobs and putting pressure on public services. However, the violence also extended to legally resident foreign nationals, with several documented migrants reportedly attacked despite having valid immigration status.

The unrest has forced thousands of foreigners to flee South Africa and reignited long-standing concerns about recurring xenophobic violence that has repeatedly strained Pretoria’s relations with other African countries.

While insisting that diplomatic ties between Ghana and South Africa remain cordial, Ofosu criticized the South African government for what he described as an inadequate response to the attacks.

“Our relations remain cordial,” he said, adding that “the South African government could have done more” to protect foreign citizens from violence.

In response, a spokesman for President Ramaphosa dismissed suggestions of a diplomatic rift, insisting there was no basis for the tension between the two countries.

“We do not believe there should be any tension with Ghana,” the spokesperson told AFP, accusing Ghana’s Foreign Ministry of engaging in what was described as “anti-South African rhetoric”.

The postponement represents one of the clearest diplomatic signals yet sent by an African government on the latest xenophobic crisis in South Africa and is expected to increase pressure on Pretoria to strengthen migrant protection and address the social and economic challenges fueling the violence.