Ghana explains why Ramaphosa's state visit was declined

The Ghanaian government says its decision to postpone South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's planned state visit was driven by concerns that renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa would eclipse the broader diplomatic agenda the two countries had hoped to pursue.

Responding to reports that Ghana had declined the visit, the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the postponement should not be interpreted as a diplomatic rebuff but as a decision taken in the interest of both countries.

"The visit had been planned well before the recent xenophobic attacks," he said in an interview on Accra based Joy FM and monitored by the Executive Spotlight on Tuesday.

According to him, the visit was scheduled for early August 2026, but the violence against foreign nationals in parts of South Africa prompted Ghana to formally ask that it be deferred until tensions ease.

"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," Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.

His comments provide the clearest explanation yet of the government's decision following reports that the visit had been called off amid growing concern over the safety of Ghanaians living in South Africa.

Keeping the focus on bilateral relations

Mr Kwakye Ofosu said Ghana remained committed to its longstanding relationship with South Africa and wanted any state visit to focus on strengthening cooperation rather than being dominated by the fallout from the attacks.

He described the relationship between the two countries as one rooted in shared history and strengthened by cooperation in trade, politics and regional affairs.

According to him, allowing the visit to proceed while xenophobic violence remained in the international spotlight risked diverting attention from the substantive discussions both governments had planned.

"Given the nature of the recent attacks, there is a likelihood that they will overshadow the very important issues that would have to be discussed during such a visit," he said.

He added that both governments agreed it would be more appropriate to hold the visit once the immediate tensions had subsided.

Visit planned before violence

The minister emphasised that preparations for President Ramaphosa's visit had begun months before the latest attacks, dismissing suggestions that the postponement reflected a breakdown in diplomatic relations.

Instead, he said, the decision reflected a shared desire to preserve the significance of the visit and ensure it delivered meaningful outcomes for both countries.

The proposed state visit was expected to include discussions on expanding cooperation in trade, investment and other areas of mutual interest.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu said Ghana remains committed to deepening those ties and expects the visit to be rescheduled when conditions allow.

His remarks come as concerns continue to grow over renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which have affected foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, and prompted calls for stronger protections for migrant communities.