The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has called on President John Dramani Mahama and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to engage directly to help resolve growing diplomatic tensions between Ghana and South Africa.
The Damongo MP said recent developments suggest that ministerial-level engagement may no longer be enough to address concerns arising from xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
Call for Presidential Intervention
Speaking on the matter, Mr. Jinapor said relations between the two countries appear to have deteriorated despite their long-standing partnership.
“Quite clearly, there is some breakdown of trust between our respective governments and the bilateral relationship between Ghana and South Africa is obviously at its lowest,” he said.
He argued that direct talks between the two presidents could help restore confidence and strengthen diplomatic ties.
Concerns Over Ministerial Relations
Mr. Jinapor said recent public exchanges between Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and his South African counterpart point to a breakdown in communication between the two governments.
“If you follow the exchanges between our Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister of South Africa, it is quite clear that there is some breakdown of cordiality and functionality,” he stated.
According to him, stronger political leadership is needed to de-escalate the situation and preserve the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
Dispute Over Ghanaian’s Death
The renewed diplomatic tension follows the killing of a Ghanaian national in Cape Town.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has linked the death of 40-year-old Bashiru Isak to ongoing xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa.
However, South African authorities dispute that account.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 2, South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said Ghana’s version of events was not supported by police investigations.
According to South African police, the victim was shot at a barbershop in Nyanga during what investigators believe was a robbery rather than a xenophobic attack.
Police said unknown gunmen entered the shop, demanded money and shot the victim before fleeing.
Calls for Dialogue
Mr Jinapor urged both governments to work together through diplomatic channels to address concerns over the safety of foreign nationals while protecting the broader relationship between Ghana and South Africa.
His comments come amid renewed concern over attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
Earlier, Ghana organised the voluntary evacuation of some of its citizens following threats by vigilante groups targeting undocumented migrants.
South African authorities criticised the move, arguing that Ghana had overreacted. However, several other countries later undertook similar evacuation efforts for their nationals.
Mr. Jinapor said sustained dialogue between the two governments remains the best path to resolving the current impasse and preserving the strong historical ties between the two countries.
