Ramaphosa sends delegation to Ghana over xenophobic attacks

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently sent a delegation to Ghana for talks on recurring xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, saying the issue can no longer be ignored if Africa is to achieve deeper regional integration.

Speaking at the Jubilee House on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssou, President Mahama said the engagement provided an opportunity for Ghana to raise concerns directly with South Africa while encouraging greater openness about the steps being taken to address the violence.

The disclosure comes against the backdrop of repeated attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa over the past decade, incidents that have strained diplomatic relations with several African countries and renewed debate over the safety of migrants living and working across the continent.

'We cannot sweep it under the carpet'

President Mahama said Ghana deliberately chose to address the issue openly rather than avoid a difficult conversation.

"President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a delegation to me, and I explained the reason why we need to discuss it. Sometimes these things happen, and we want to sweep them under the carpet, but when we do that, we do not cure what the problem is," he said.

He stressed that Ghana's position should not be interpreted as hostility towards South Africa but as a constructive effort to encourage transparency and strengthen confidence that the matter is receiving serious attention.

"Ghana does not harbour any malice against South Africa, but we are raising it so it gives them the platform to explain what they are doing to the world," he added.

Call for stronger African Union action

President Mahama urged the African Union to take a more active role in addressing xenophobic violence, warning that attacks on African nationals threaten the continent's ambitions for free movement, economic integration and closer political cooperation.

He said the violence carries significant human and financial costs, recalling that Ghana had previously been forced to evacuate some of its citizens from South Africa following earlier outbreaks of unrest.

The President argued that unless African countries work together to confront the root causes of xenophobia, similar incidents are likely to continue undermining efforts to build a more integrated continent.

A wider continental challenge

Xenophobic attacks in South Africa have periodically targeted foreign nationals from several African countries, prompting diplomatic protests and calls for stronger protection of migrants.

President Mahama's comments suggest Ghana is seeking to address the issue through direct diplomatic engagement while encouraging broader continental action through the African Union.

His remarks come as African leaders continue to promote closer regional cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other initiatives aimed at increasing the movement of people, goods and services across borders.

For Ghana, the latest diplomatic engagement signals that concerns over the safety of its citizens abroad remain high on the government's foreign policy agenda, even as it seeks to maintain close bilateral relations with South Africa.