President Mahama raises South Africa xenophobic attacks with Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that he held discussions with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, who visited Ghana as Special Envoy of President Cyril Ramaphosa, over the recent xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Presidency in Accra, focused on Ghana’s concerns about the attacks and the need for stronger action to address the situation.
President Mahama disclosed the engagement when he received the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, during a courtesy call on the sidelines of the AU Extraordinary Health Summit in Accra.
“President Ramaphosa sent a delegation to me yesterday. We met with them and I explained why it was important for us to discuss the matter,” President Mahama said.
“Sometimes these things happen and we want to sweep them under the carpet. But when we do that, we do not cure the problem.”
The President stressed that Ghana held no hostility towards South Africa but believed the issue should be openly addressed at the continental level. According to him, this would provide South Africa with an opportunity to outline the steps it is taking to curb the attacks and restore confidence among African nations.
President Mahama disclosed that Ghana had formally petitioned the African Union Commission over the violence, describing the incidents as deeply troubling given the historic relationship between Ghana and South Africa and the shared vision of African unity.
“When something like this happens, it sets all of us back,” he said.
He noted that the attacks had displaced many people, destroyed businesses and livelihoods, and created fear among foreign nationals living in South Africa.
President Mahama said two Ghanaian citizens had lost their lives during the attacks, while several others suffered injuries and were receiving treatment in hospital.
“It doesn’t appear that the South African authorities are responding to the magnitude that one would expect,” he said.
“The persons who are funding these xenophobic attacks are known, and they have been left free to continue what they are doing. It has become something they are doing with impunity.”
The President also highlighted the financial burden the crisis had placed on Ghana, saying the government had already organised three chartered evacuation flights and planned to deploy three more to bring home about 900 Ghanaians who had voluntarily chosen to return.
“They come back with nothing, most of them with just the clothes on their backs and a small bag,” he said.
He explained that many of those returning had spent between 15 and 20 years in South Africa, where they had established businesses and built their lives, only to lose everything because of the attacks.
President Mahama said the government was providing financial support and reintegration assistance to help the returnees rebuild their livelihoods.
He appealed to the African Union to treat xenophobic violence as a continental issue, warning that such incidents threaten Africa’s integration agenda and weaken solidarity among member states.
The President recalled that Ghana had earlier requested for the matter to be included on the agenda of the AU Summit that was originally scheduled to take place in Egypt before it was postponed.
“We’re hoping that at the next opportunity, we will be able to put it on the agenda,” he said, urging the AU Commission Chairperson to ensure Ghana’s petition is discussed at the next summit.
Responding, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ronald Lamola had publicly condemned the xenophobic attacks during his recent visit to South Africa.
He reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity and security of all Africans living across the continent, stressing that such challenges must be addressed through solidarity, dialogue and respect for the rule of law.
Mr Youssouf also commended Ghana for successfully hosting the AU Extraordinary Health Summit and praised President Mahama’s leadership.
He further applauded Ghana’s efforts to expand domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, describing the progress as a significant contribution to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the continent’s drive to build resilient and self-sustaining health systems.