Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama says that he has secured a commitment from the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf to place xenophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of the continental body’s next meeting, amid rising tensions between Ghana and South Africa.
President Mahama announced on Thursday in Accra that the AU Commission Chairperson had agreed to include attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa among the issues to be discussed at the organisation’s upcoming session.
According to the statement by Ghana’s Presidency, the commitment was made during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of an extraordinary African Union Summit in Accra.
The Ghanaian leader said that his country “harbours no hostility towards South Africa” but could not “ignore the suffering and losses endured by Ghanaian citizens and other Africans” affected by the violence.
“Brushing the issue under the carpet will not address its root causes,” Mahama said, arguing that a debate by the AU would give South Africa the opportunity to present its position while allowing member states to seek a collective response to the crisis.
The initiative comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Ghana and South Africa. In early July, Ghanaian authorities announced the postponement of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned August visit, saying that the trip could trigger unrest after Ghana had repatriated more than 900 of its citizens who had left South Africa.
Relations between the two countries further deteriorated, following the circulation of a video showing a Ghanaian national being verbally assaulted and ordered to leave South Africa.
Ghana has also claimed that a Ghanaian citizen was killed during protests on June 30, a version disputed by South African authorities.
The crisis has taken on a wider regional dimension. Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have also organised the return of their citizens, following an ultimatum issued by South African pressure groups demanding that undocumented migrants should leave the country before June 30. Estimates suggest that nearly 25,000 people may have departed South Africa.
Facing criticism, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated the right of South Africans to hold peaceful protests, while pledging to step up efforts to combat irregular migration.
However, disagreements remain between the two governments, with South Africa accusing Ghana of spreading inaccurate information, while Ghana continues to denounce the treatment of its nationals.
The Ghanaian presidency also recalled that Ghana had formally referred the matter to the African Union Commission after organising the repatriation of its citizens, arguing that only a coordinated response from the continental body can help preserve African unity, protect populations and safeguard investments across the continent.
AC/Sf/lb/gik/APA