Government has reportedly declined a planned state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, citing concerns over the death of a Ghanaian national and renewed reports of xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians in South Africa.
The decision comes in the wake of the killing of 40 year old Bashiru Isak, whom Ghanaian authorities say died during demonstrations linked to fresh attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa on June 30, 2026.
Government sources indicated that the move reflects growing concern about the safety and security of Ghanaians living in South Africa, as well as the need for concrete measures to address the reported violence before any high level diplomatic engagement takes place.
President Ramaphosa had been scheduled to undertake a state visit to Ghana during the first week of August.
The visit was expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and provide a platform for discussions on a range of issues, including the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa.
However, Ghanaian authorities maintain that the prevailing circumstances require urgent attention before the visit can proceed.
Government has also lodged a formal protest with South African authorities over the death of Mr. Isak and expressed broader concerns about the welfare and protection of Ghanaian citizens residing in the country.
According to report, Mr. Isak was shot and killed during what they described as anti immigrant demonstrations associated with ongoing xenophobic attacks in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town.
South African authorities have strongly rejected that account, insisting that Ghana’s description of the incident is inaccurate.
The South African government has described Ghana’s claims as “factually incorrect” and maintained that no fatalities were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which drew thousands of protesters in various parts of the country.
South Africa’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, criticized Ghana’s characterization of the incident, arguing that it presents a misleading picture of the country.
“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” she said in a statement.
“The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable,” she added.
The disagreement has renewed debate over the safety of African migrants living in South Africa, with Ghana calling for stronger measures to safeguard its citizens and prevent further attacks against foreign nationals.
Despite the latest diplomatic tensions, Ghana and South Africa have long enjoyed cordial relations, cooperating in areas such as trade, investment, diplomacy and regional integration.
The current dispute, however, presents a fresh challenge as both governments seek to resolve the differing accounts surrounding the incident while preserving their longstanding bilateral partnership.
By Henry Eliud Yankey
