Ghanaian gov’t overacted to genuine immigration concerns – SA advocate

Leader of South Africa’s March and March Movement, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has accused the Ghanaian government of exaggerating claims of xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians living in South Africa.

Ngobese-Zuma, who addressed a press conference on Monday, described Ghana’s response to the controversy as “dishonest” and said authorities in Accra failed to properly assess the situation before publicly condemning South Africa over alleged attacks on foreign nationals.

“I think the Ghanaian government really overrated. I think it is disappointing,” she said while addressing concerns surrounding recent tensions involving migrants in South Africa.

“We’ve had a lot of respect for Ghana as a country and for the people of Ghana. And we still do. But for them to react in the way that they did is largely dishonest,” she added.

According to her, allegations that Ghanaians had been assaulted were inaccurate, insisting that no such attacks had taken place.

“Because for them to claim that people were beaten up when they know people were not beaten up and the Minister of Police to echo that is absolutely ridiculous,” Ngobese-Zuma stated.

She further argued that the Ghanaian government turned the matter into a public relations campaign aimed at portraying South Africans as xenophobic instead of addressing what she described as legitimate immigration concerns.

“Instead of them addressing that issue in a correct manner, they decided to do a whole PR exercise that will paint South Africa as xenophobic. Very disappointing,” she stressed.

The comments follow diplomatic concerns raised earlier this year by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over reported intimidation of foreign nationals in South Africa.

On April 23, Ablakwa summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner after videos circulating online showed incidents of harassment targeting migrants, including Ghanaians.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Minister expressed “strong concern regarding reported acts of intimidation and harassment against foreign nationals, including Ghanaians,” warning that such developments could undermine regional harmony.

The statement referenced an incident in KwaZulu-Natal Province where a Ghanaian resident was reportedly confronted and asked to prove his immigration status before being told to “fix his country.”

Ablakwa said such remarks undermined “the dignity and rights of law-abiding individuals.”