Ghana has postponed the scheduled visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, following a wave of xenophobic and anti-immigrant violence against other Africans.
Mobs targeting undocumented migrants attacked numerous African nationals, including several Ghanaian citizens.
In response, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to Ghana, Thando Dalamba, to convey Accra’s “strong concern” over the ongoing intimidation and harassment of foreign nationals.
Following this, the Ghanaian government began repatriating its citizens from the country.
Reports on Tuesday indicate that Ghana declined Ramaphosa, South African president’s proposed state visit, with diplomatic sources framing the move as a strategic freeze on bilateral relations to underscore Accra’s strong disapproval of the attacks on its citizens in South Africa.
However, Government Communications Minister Felix Ofosu clarified that the postponement was a mutual recognition that current tensions could overshadow the critical agenda items slated for discussion, rather than a flat rejection of South Africa’s diplomatic engagements.
In an interview with Joy FM, Ghanaian broadcaster, “Let me indicate that this is a visit that had been planned well in advance of the outbreak of the recent xenophobic attacks. Indeed, it was slated to take place in early August 2026, but given the outbreak of these attacks and all the issues that have arisen therefrom, we sent a diplomatic communication to the South African government that we believe it is best to defer the visit until such a time when these matters have been resolved, and there is relative calm.”
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Backstory…
The suspension of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned visit comes amid escalating xenophobic attacks that have rocked parts of South Africa in recent weeks. The violence has seen mobs target foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ethiopians, Somalis and other African migrants, with shops looted, businesses vandalised and several people assaulted.
Disturbing videos circulating on social media have shown foreigners fleeing attacks, while others have reportedly armed themselves in self-defence as tensions spread across affected communities.
The latest wave of attacks has also sparked retaliatory threats, protests and renewed calls for stronger intervention by the African Union. Against this backdrop, Ghana’s decision to suspend President Ramaphosa’s visit is being seen as one of the clearest diplomatic responses yet to the worsening xenophobic crisis in South Africa.
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