Ghana Declines President Ramaphosa’s Planned Visit Amid Concerns Over Alleged Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa

Ghana has declined a planned state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa following concerns over the killing of a Ghanaian citizen and reports of renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.

The decision comes after the death of 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, who Ghanaian authorities say was killed during demonstrations linked to anti-immigrant violence in South Africa on June 30, 2026.

According to government sources, Ghana opted to postpone the visit because of increasing concerns about the safety and welfare of Ghanaians living in South Africa. Officials said the government believes the reported attacks against foreign nationals must be addressed before any high-level diplomatic engagement can proceed.

President Ramaphosa had been scheduled to visit Ghana during the first week of August. The visit was expected to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries while providing an opportunity for discussions on issues of mutual interest, including the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa.

However, the Ghanaian government has indicated that resolving the current security concerns affecting its citizens takes priority over the planned diplomatic visit.

In addition to declining the visit, Ghana has formally lodged a protest with the South African government over the death of Bashiru Isak and expressed broader concerns about the security of Ghanaian nationals residing in the country.

Ghanaian officials maintain that Mr. Isak was shot and killed during what they described as anti-immigrant demonstrations connected to ongoing xenophobic attacks in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town.

South African authorities have strongly rejected Ghana’s version of events, insisting that the claims surrounding the incident are inaccurate.

The South African government stated that no deaths were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which drew thousands of protesters in different parts of the country.

South Africa’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, described Ghana’s account of the incident as misleading and warned that it could damage South Africa’s international image.

“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” Kubayi said in an official statement.

She further stated that “the spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable.”

The disagreement has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two African nations while reigniting debate over the safety of foreign nationals living in South Africa.

Ghana has called on South African authorities to strengthen measures aimed at protecting Ghanaians and other foreign nationals living in the country, while urging efforts to prevent future attacks and ensure justice in cases involving violence against migrants.