Ghana Accuses South Africa of Killing Migrant, Sparking Diplomatic Row

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs ministry has shocked the international community after reports of a 40‑year‑old migrant, Bashiru Isak, being shot dead in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township during an anti‑migrant protest. The ministry sent a formal protest note and lodged a complaint with local police.

South Africa’s justice minister has expressed concern that Ghanaian authorities are spreading false information about the incident, and the police say they have no record of the murder. While the case remains unverified, investigations are underway into a separate incident involving Ghanaian Kwabena Boagen, who was shot in a different township.

Ghana demands an expedited, transparent investigation and has called for the swift arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. It also urges South Africa to honour its international obligations to safeguard the dignity, safety, and rights of foreign nationals on its soil.

Amid rising anti‑migrant sentiment, South Africa set an unofficial deadline on 2 July 2026 for all undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Thousands marched across major cities, and protests were largely peaceful, though about 900 people were arrested mainly for immigration offences and looting.

With unemployment above 30%, the country’s growing anti‑immigrant rhetoric threatens to exacerbate tensions, as Ghana and other African states express grave concerns over the safety of their citizens working in South Africa.