In brief
In response to reported intimidation and attacks on its citizens in South Africa, Ghana has summoned the country's top envoy. Recent videos show vigilante groups harassing individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants, including Ghanaians. Ghanaian officials are offering support to affected citizens, while South African authorities condemned the violence and promised investigations.
Ghana has summoned South Africa's top envoy to the country over reported acts of intimidation and harassment against its citizens and other African migrants in the southern African nation.
Earlier this week, video clips circulated online showing vigilante groups attacking and confronting people they believed were in South Africa illegally — in one of them, they challenge a Ghanaian man over his status.
Xenophobia has long been an issue in South Africa and has been accompanied by occasional outbursts of deadly violence.
Ghanaian officials have met the man in the video to offer him support and urged citizens living abroad to continue being law-abiding.
The West African nation's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated it had also met South Africa's acting High Commissioner to Ghana, Thando Dalamba, and raised a formal protest over the recent xenophobic incidents against foreigners, including its citizens.
It cited a video clip showing a group of South Africans questioning a Ghanaian man. The group demand to see the man's documents and even when he produces them, they question their authenticity, before telling him to go and fix your country.
According to Ghana's Foreign Affairs Ministry, the man is in South Africa legally.
Such conduct undermines the dignity and rights of law-abiding citizens, the Ministry declared in a statement released on Thursday.
Ghana's High Commission in South Africa has shared a video of top envoy Benjamin Quashie meeting this man.
The situation is dire, we understand, [but] let's continue being law-abiding [and] respect the rules... of engagement as migrant citizens in this country, Quashie remarked.
The country's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also spoken to his South African counterpart Ronald Lamola, who promised a full investigation and expressed empathy for the victims.
South Africa's acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia condemned the acts, stating that no individual or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands, irrespective of grievances or frustrations.
South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, making up just less than 4% of the population, according to official figures. However, many more are believed to be in the country unofficially. Most come from neighbouring countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, while a smaller number come from Nigeria.
