Ghana’s government has expressed confidence in South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ability to address the recent wave of xenophobic violence and attacks against foreign nationals in parts of South Africa. Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa welcomed Ramaphosa’s public condemnation of the violence, describing the South African leader’s response as reassuring amid growing concerns across the continent. In a Facebook post on May 11, Ablakwa said Ghana was counting on Ramaphosa’s leadership to restore calm and protect the long-standing spirit of African unity and solidarity between the two countries.
The minister noted that Ghana and South Africa share deep bilateral ties built on mutual respect, cooperation, and Pan-African ideals. He also reaffirmed his support for the vision of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, declaring that he still believes strongly in the dream of a united Africa. President Ramaphosa had earlier condemned the attacks and protests targeting foreign nationals, stressing that such acts do not reflect the values of South Africans or the official position of his government. He warned that vigilantism, violence, and criminal behavior would not be tolerated and reiterated South Africa’s commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and African solidarity. The latest tensions have renewed concerns over recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa, where migrants from several African countries have previously faced attacks linked to unemployment, crime, and economic frustrations.
