Ghana has summoned South Africa's top envoy to the country over reported acts of intimidation and harassment against its citizens and other African migrants in the southern African nation.
Earlier this week, video clips circulated online showing vigilante groups attacking and confronting people they believed were in South Africa illegally. One clip featured protesters challenging a Ghanaian man regarding his legal status.
Xenophobia has long plagued South Africa, often resulting in violent confrontations. In response to the recent incidents, Ghanaian officials reached out to the man depicted in the videos to offer support and urged citizens living abroad to remain law-abiding.
The West African nation's foreign affairs ministry met with South Africa's acting high commissioner to Ghana, Thando Dalamba, formally protesting against these xenophobic incidents.
The ministry specifically referenced a viral clip showing South Africans questioning a Ghanaian man, demanding to see his documentation, and, after he produced valid papers, implying they were fake and urging him to return home to fix your country.
According to Ghana's foreign affairs ministry, the man was in South Africa legally. They noted, Such conduct undermines the dignity and rights of law-abiding citizens, in a statement released on Thursday.
Ghana's High Commission in South Africa has shared a video of top envoy Benjamin Quashie meeting the man, telling him, The situation is dire, we understand, [but] let's continue being law-abiding [and] respect the rules... of engagement as migrant citizens in this country.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also communicated with South Africa's counterpart, Ronald Lamola, who promised a full investigation into the matter and expressed empathy for the victims involved.
South Africa's acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia, condemned the actions of these vigilante groups, stressing that no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands, regardless of their frustrations.
Statistics reveal South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, accounting for under 4% of its population, although many more are believed to be undocumented. Many migrants come from neighboring countries with historical economic ties to South Africa.
