Ghana has postponed a visit by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, originally set for the first week of August, following a wave of xenophobic riots that saw hundreds of Ghanaian nationals living in South Africa repatriated.
The move comes amid fears that Ramaphosa’s presence in Accra could ignite large‑scale protests, according to spokesman Felix Kwakye Ofosu who said the decision was “best to defer the visit in view of the present climate around xenophobia.”
South Africa’s presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya framed the postponement as a technical issue, insisting that the two sister nations would continue diplomatic talks to set a new date and reaffirm a commitment to the African Agenda.
The row followed a viral video of Ghanaian activist Emmanuel Asamoah being warned to “go fix his country” in Cape Town, heightening tensions over migration and residency status for Ghanaian citizens abroad.
Ghana has already moved more than 900 of its nationals out of South Africa, and other African states such as Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya are also sending citizens back home amid continuing anti‑immigration protests.
The African Union has received Ghana’s appeal for an inquiry into xenophobic attacks, with analysts warning that South Africa could face political isolation if the situation is not addressed swiftly.
