The government of Ghana has decided to postpone bilateral meetings with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, over concerns of recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that have affected Ghanaian nationals.
Ramaphosa was initially scheduled to visit Ghana in August for the meetings of the South Africa-Ghana Bi-National Commission.
According to the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the decision to postpone the visit was due to a mutual recognition that the current tensions could overshadow important issues both countries intended to discuss.
“Let me indicate that this is a visit that had been planned well in advance of the outbreak of the recent xenophobic attacks. Indeed, it was slated to take place in early August 2026, but given the outbreak of these attacks and all the issues that have arisen therefrom, we sent a diplomatic communication to the South African government that we believe it is best to defer the visit until such a time when these matters have been resolved, and there is relative calm,” he said on Joy FM’s Midday News on Tuesday.
The government spokesperson noted that Ghana still maintains cordial diplomatic relations with South Africa, although for many this could be interpreted as a diplomatic row.
Ghana has recently had to raise concerns over the alleged shooting of a 40-year-old Ghanaian fashion designer during the June 30 anti-immigrant protests by vigilante groups.
South Africa has rejected Ghana’s claims that the Ghanaian national was killed during the June 30 anti-immigrant protests. South African officials state that the victim was shot on June 29 in a suspected extortion-related attack at a barbershop in Nyanga, Cape Town, and was completely unrelated to the demonstrations.