Ghana has called in South Africa’s top diplomat after reports of mistreatment of its citizens. The concern comes after videos spread online. These clips show groups of people targeting migrants. They accuse them of being in the country illegally. In one video, a Ghanaian man is stopped and questioned.
A group demands to see his documents. Even after he shows them, they doubt him. They tell him to go back and “fix your country.”. Ghana says the man is living in South Africa legally. Xenophobia has been a problem in South Africa for many years. At times, it has turned violent. Foreign nationals have been attacked. Shops owned by migrants have also been damaged or looted. Ghana’s government has taken the issue seriously. Officials met the man seen in the video and offered him support. They also advised Ghanaians living abroad to follow the law and stay safe.
Ghana’s foreign affairs ministry also spoke with South Africa’s acting high commissioner in Accra. They raised a formal complaint. They said such actions are unfair and harm the dignity of innocent people. Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also contacted his South African counterpart. South Africa promised to investigate the situation. Officials there said they understand the concern and will look into the matter. South Africa’s acting police minister also spoke out.
He stated that no group is entitled to enforce the law independently. He warned that such actions are illegal, no matter the reason. Nigeria has also reacted. It advised its citizens in South Africa to be careful. The warning comes after reports of protests in cities like Cape Town and Durban. Some protests turned violent. There were reports of injuries, damage, and looting. South Africa has about 2.4 million migrants.
This is around 4% of its population. Many more are believed to be living there without official documents. Most migrants come from nearby countries. Some also come from West Africa. Groups like Operation Dudula blame migrants for problems. They say foreigners cause unemployment and crime. These groups have held protests before. Some of these events have led to attacks. Recently, a protest in Durban turned violent. A man was attacked after being accused of being an illegal migrant. These incidents continue to raise concern across Africa.
