By Francis Kobena Tandoh
The government has urged Ghanaians to avoid nonessential travel to South Africa amidst growing xenophobic attacks on African immigrants, according to a travel advisory on Monday.
The travel advisory, issued by the country’s Foreign Affairs ministry, said the government was worried by the increasing attacks targeted at African migrants in South Africa despite a number of measures taken by the John Mahama-led administration to protect its nationals.
“The government of Ghana has observed with great concern the increasing xenophobic attacks in South Africa targeted at Africans by groups presenting themselves as anti-immigrant vigilantes, which have resulted in degrees of injuries, closure and takeover of businesses, looting, and loss of properties,” said the statement.
“The government of Ghana hereby advises Ghanaian nationals to exercise extreme caution in their travel plans and avoid non-essential travel to South Africa until further notice,” added the statement.
The government assured its nationals in South Africa to maintain regular contact with its high commission in that country for consular services.
The statement emphasized that the Ghanaian authorities will continue to engage their relevant counterparts in South Africa to facilitate the evacuation of their nationals back home.
Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government is calling on the South African government to provide adequate protection for targeted groups of Africans in its territory and to enforce law and order.
The government of Ghana last week evacuated some 300 of its nationals from South Africa back home and is seeking to evacuate more this week. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
