South Africa has confirmed that it dispatched International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola to Ghana as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy, weeks after Accra postponed planned high-level engagements between the two countries over escalating xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
South Africa turns to quiet diplomacy to repair strained Ghana relations after Ramaphosa visit delay
- South Africa sent its International Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola, to Ghana amid talks over anti-immigration violence in South Africa.
- The diplomatic visit was confirmed by both Ghanaian President John Mahama and Minister Lamola, aiming to address the strained relations.
- Lamola reiterated South Africa’s rejection of xenophobia, racism, and violence, emphasizing the government’s commitment to the rule of law.
- Ghana has formally requested the African Union to discuss xenophobic attacks in South Africa at the next AU Summit.
The diplomatic mission, revealed by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and later confirmed by Lamola himself, marks Pretoria’s clearest effort yet to contain a dispute that has strained relations between two of Africa’s leading economies.
Speaking after bilateral talks on the sidelines of the African Union Extraordinary Summit in Accra, Mahama disclosed that he had met with a special envoy sent by Ramaphosa earlier in the week and used the opportunity to restate Ghana’s concerns over attacks on foreign nationals and the destruction of African-owned businesses in South Africa.
“In my meeting with a special envoy dispatched by President Cyril Ramaphosa to meet with me in Accra earlier in the week, I made Ghana’s position clear to the envoy,” Mahama said.
DON’T MISS THIS:Ghana says xenophobia made it reject South Africa’s president’s visit; Pretoria disagrees
He stressed that Ghana harbours no hostility toward South Africa but remains deeply troubled by recurring attacks on foreign nationals and the significant financial losses suffered by Africans who have invested in the country.
In a separate statement, Lamola identified himself as the special envoy, saying he had met Mahama in Accra the previous day on behalf of President Ramaphosa.
“Yesterday, I met with His Excellency President Mahama of Ghana as a Special Envoy on behalf of President Ramaphosa in Accra. We engaged in an open dialogue on key issues impacting both our nations,” Lamola said.
The South African minister reiterated Pretoria’s position against xenophobia, saying the country “categorically rejects xenophobia, racism, homophobia, and violence in all forms” and remains committed to upholding the rule of law.
Lamola also said South Africa supports “safe, regular and orderly migration” across Africa while arguing that the root causes driving irregular migration must also be addressed.
The diplomatic engagement follows weeks of tension between Accra and Pretoria after Ghana postponed planned bilateral engagements with South Africa, including a scheduled visit by Ramaphosa, citing concerns that the worsening xenophobic attacks would overshadow the meetings.
The decision marked one of the strongest diplomatic responses by an African country to South Africa’s recurring outbreaks of anti-foreigner violence, which have periodically strained Pretoria’s relations with several countries across the continent.
Ghana has formally requested the African Union to discuss xenophobic attacks in South Africa at the next AU Summit.news24
ADVERTISEMENT
Beyond the bilateral discussions, Mahama announced that Ghana has formally requested the African Union to place the issue of xenophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of the next AU Summit.
According to the Ghanaian president, African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf acknowledged the need for the matter to be discussed at the continental level.
“Sweeping this matter under the carpet will not resolve its root causes,” Mahama said. “That is why Ghana officially wrote to the AU Commission requesting that this issue be placed on the agenda for the next summit.”
He argued that discussing the matter within the African Union framework would not be intended to isolate South Africa but rather to create a formal platform for all member states to address a challenge affecting continental integration.
“Placing this on the AU agenda gives South Africa a formal, constructive platform to share its perspective, and together, as a continent, work toward a lasting solution,” Mahama said.
The latest developments underscore how xenophobic violence has evolved from a domestic security issue into a broader diplomatic concern for the continent.
DON’T MISS THIS:Days after Ghana setback, Ramaphosa turns to France to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties
For Africa, the dispute carries implications beyond bilateral relations. As countries push for deeper economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the safety of African migrants, entrepreneurs and investors has become increasingly important to building confidence in cross-border trade and investment.
South Africa remains one of the continent’s largest destinations for African migrants and businesses, making recurring attacks on foreign nationals a matter of regional significance.
Whether that diplomatic outreach will be enough to ease tensions may now depend on discussions at the next African Union Summit, where Ghana hopes the issue will receive formal consideration by the continent’s leaders.
