The Ghanaian government has declined a planned state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, citing concerns over the killing of a Ghanaian national and reported xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaians in South Africa.
The decision follows the death of 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, who Ghanaian authorities say was killed during demonstrations linked to renewed attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa on June 30, 2026.
Government sources said the decision was taken amid growing concerns over the safety of Ghanaians living in South Africa and the need for urgent measures to address reported incidents of violence against foreign nationals.
President Ramaphosa was expected to visit Ghana in the first week of August, providing an opportunity for both countries to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss measures to address concerns over attacks targeting foreign nationals.
However, the Ghanaian government indicated that the current situation required attention before such high-level diplomatic engagements could proceed.
Government has also formally protested to South African authorities over the death of Mr Isak and broader concerns regarding the safety of Ghanaian nationals in South Africa.
According to Ghanaian officials, Mr Isak was shot and killed during what they described as “anti-immigrant demonstrations linked to ongoing xenophobic attacks” in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township.
South African authorities have, however, disputed Ghana’s account of the incident, describing the claims surrounding the killing as “factually incorrect” and “not based on fact.”
The South African government said no deaths were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which attracted thousands of protesters in parts of the country.
South Africa’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said Ghana’s characterisation of the incident was misleading and risked creating a negative perception of South Africa.
“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” she was quoted as saying in a statement.
“The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable,” she added.
The development has reignited discussions over the safety of African nationals living in South Africa, with Ghana calling for stronger measures to protect its citizens abroad and prevent further attacks.
Ghana and South Africa have historically maintained strong diplomatic ties, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, diplomacy and regional affairs. The latest disagreement, however, has introduced tensions into the relationship as both governments work to address the concerns surrounding the incident.
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