Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has secured a commitment from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, to place xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa on the agenda of the African Union’s next meeting.
The commitment was made during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the African Union Extraordinary Session in Accra. President Mahama said Ghana holds no hostility toward South Africa but cannot ignore the suffering of Ghanaians and other Africans affected by the violence, stressing that the issue requires a continental response rather than being overlooked.
The move comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between Ghana and South Africa following reports of attacks on African migrants.
Ghana recently postponed a planned visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after repatriating more than 900 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa. Accra has also raised concerns over the reported death of a Ghanaian citizen during protests on June 30, a claim disputed by South African authorities.
Several other African countries, including Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, have also repatriated citizens as thousands of migrants left South Africa following calls by pressure groups for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
President Mahama said discussions at the African Union would allow member states to jointly address the root causes of the crisis while preserving African unity and protecting the rights and safety of citizens across the continent.
