Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said on Tuesday that ‘all options remain on the table’ as the government weighs its response to the anti-migrant violence targeting Ghanaians in South Africa, while stressing that the immediate priority remains the safe evacuation and reintegration of affected citizens.
During a media briefing in Accra, Ablakwa provided updates on Ghana’s response to the crisis, including evacuation efforts, diplomatic engagement with South Africa and planned action at the African Union.
“All options remain on the table. For now, our focus really is on the humanitarian response, taking our people out of harm’s way, making sure that they are well reintegrated,” he said, adding that Ghana had also begun documenting losses suffered by citizens forced to flee.
The minister said Ghana was compiling a dossier detailing properties and businesses abandoned during the violence and suggested compensation should be pursued.
“Some of them own houses, they own shops, they own schools, they own businesses which they have had to flee from […] Should compensation be sought? I will argue that the latter is what is humanely preferable,” Ablakwa said.
He said Ghana had formally petitioned the African Union to place the recurring xenophobic attacks on its agenda, describing the violence as a threat to African unity and regional integration.
“The government has initiated continental action to address the recurring xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians and other African nationals in the Republic of South Africa,” he said, adding that the petition had now received ECOWAS backing and was expected to be discussed at the African Union’s mid-year coordination meeting in Egypt in October.
Ablakwa said President John Dramani Mahama had also raised the issue directly with African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, stressing that Ghana’s petition was intended to encourage a continental response rather than single out South Africa.
The minister also said Ghana was seeking to preserve cordial relations with Pretoria despite the crisis, noting that President Mahama recently received a special envoy from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who conveyed condolences over the deaths of Ghanaian nationals Bashiru Isak and Kojo Antwi and pledged that South African authorities would thoroughly investigate the incidents.
The briefing came the same day that hundreds of Ghanaian citizens arrived in Accra as part of the latest government-organised evacuation from South Africa.
The evacuations follow weeks of anti-migrant protests and attacks in South Africa, where campaigners have blamed foreign nationals for crime and unemployment.
Ghana says Bashiru Isak and Kojo Antwi were killed in separate incidents during the unrest, while around 1,000 Ghanaians have registered for the latest evacuation phase after more than 900 citizens were repatriated during earlier flights in May and June.
The country has also advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa until further notice.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has condemned vigilante action and pledged tougher border and immigration enforcement. Police say 350 people have been arrested over public violence, intimidation and unauthorised immigration checks.
Source: Viory
