Ghana-South Africa Presidential Meeting Halted Over Migrant Tensions

Ghana on Tuesday said a visit between President John Mahama and his counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa had been postponed amid anti-immigrant violence in South Africa.

A meeting of the two leaders in Ghana slated for August has been postponed, Ghanaian communications minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu told radio broadcaster Joy FM, saying Accra was worried the ongoing protests would disrupt the planned agenda.

In a further round of diplomatic confusion, however, the countries disputed the exact nature of the event and why it was cancelled.

Accra described it on Tuesday as a “state visit”.

“We sent a diplomatic communication to the South African government that we believe it is best to defer their visit,” Kwakye Ofosu said.

“We value the relationship we have with South Africa,” he added, but said that recent violence in the country was liable to “overshadow” the meeting’s priorities.

A spokesman for Ramaphosa’s office said that Ghana requested the binational commission meeting to be postponed — but said the South African side wasn’t given a clear reason.

For weeks, South Africa has been the site of protests against undocumented immigrants blamed for taking jobs and resources.

Those with documents have also been targeted as citizens take measures into their own hands over pressing social problems that analysts say are largely due to government failures to provide services.

Thousands have been leaving the country as a result.

A spokesman for Ramaphosa’s office told AFP, “We don’t believe there should be any tension whatsoever with Ghana,” while also accusing the Ghanaian foreign ministry of “anti-South African rhetoric”.

AFP