The Government of Ghana has reportedly declined a request for a state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, citing ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaian nationals living in South Africa.
According to a report by the Daily Graphic, diplomatic sources in both Accra and Pretoria said the decision follows a recent wave of anti-immigration violence that has affected hundreds of Ghanaians and other foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.
The reported move comes after Ghana repatriated about 900 citizens from South Africa, while another 900 Ghanaians have registered to return home due to growing security concerns.
A diplomatic source quoted by the newspaper said the Ghanaian government remains deeply concerned about the safety and dignity of its citizens and believes the current security situation is not conducive for a high-level state visit.
“The Government of Ghana remains deeply concerned about the safety and dignity of its citizens in South Africa,” the source reportedly stated.
Another Ghanaian diplomatic source described the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad as “non-negotiable.”
According to the report, concerns also extend to the security of President Ramaphosa himself, with officials reportedly worried that the prevailing tensions could provoke an unfavourable public reaction during any official visit to Ghana.
The report further indicated that Ghana has communicated its position to South African authorities and urged them to take concrete measures to stop the attacks and guarantee the safety of Ghanaian nationals before discussions on a state visit can resume.
The development follows the recent killing of a Ghanaian national in South Africa, which prompted Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strongly condemn the incident and demand a full, transparent and expedited investigation.
The Ministry also called on South African authorities to strengthen protection for Ghanaians and other foreign nationals living in affected communities.
Ghana has since lodged a formal diplomatic protest through its High Commission in Pretoria and submitted a petition to the African Union, urging stronger regional action against the recurring xenophobic attacks.
The reported decision underscores the growing diplomatic tension between the two countries as Ghana continues to prioritise the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad while calling for lasting measures to end violence against foreign nationals in South Africa.
