Ghanaian officials have summoned the acting South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Thando Dalamba to protest strongly over xenophoic hostilities toward Ghanaians and other African nationals living South Africa.
Xenophobia has been blowing hot and cold in South Africa for decades, singling out black African migrants from elsewhere on the continent in search of better opportunities.
In the last few days Ghanaians in South Africa have been reporting incidents of intimidation and harassment targeting African immigrants living and working in the rainbow nation.
There have been reports earlier this week of vigilante groups going on the rampage in South Africa, confronting black Africans accused of staying in the country without legal documents.
Ghana’s foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said during his meeting with Mr Dalamba on Thursday that, he had conveyed the Ghanaian government’s unequivocal condemnation ”of the continuous xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians and other Africans” living in South Africa.
”We are urging South African authorities to take decisive action in protecting the human rights and dignity of our nationals and all Africans”.
Ablakwa said his country expects that the perpetrators of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa will be punished following thorough investigations into the incidents.
A video gaining traction on social media shows South African immigration officials berating a Ghanaian for illegally staying in the country, and asking him and other Africans to stay in their countries and build them.
Such remarks have provoked criticism from other Africans who accused South Africans of short memory in reference to the rest of the continent’s contribution against apartheid and the eventual advent of black majority rule in South Africa.
WN/as/APA