Ghana, South Africa clash over migrant's death amid xenophobia tensions - Blueprint Newspapers Limited
Spread the wordGhana and South Africa have become embroiled in a fresh diplomatic dispute following the killing of a Ghanaian migrant, with Pretoria rejecting claims that the death was linked to recent. . .
Spread the wordGhana and South Africa have become embroiled in a fresh diplomatic dispute following the killing of a Ghanaian migrant, with Pretoria rejecting claims that the death was linked to recent anti-immigrant protests across South Africa. The disagreement comes amid heightened tensions over xenophobic demonstrations that have prompted thousands of undocumented migrants, including hundreds of Ghanaians, to flee the country in recent weeks. Ghana protests killingGhana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its citizen, Bashiru Isak, 40, was shot dead during anti-immigrant demonstrations in Khayelitsha township, Cape Town. In a statement, the ministry described the incident as being connected to ongoing xenophobic attacks and disclosed that it had formally lodged a protest with the South African government over the killing. The development followed nationwide protests held on Tuesday, during which thousands of demonstrators demanded tougher action against undocumented migrants. South Africa rejects allegationThe South African government dismissed Ghana’s claims, describing them as inaccurate and not supported by available evidence. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi insisted that no deaths were recorded during the day of the anti-immigrant protests and accused Ghanaian authorities of spreading misinformation capable of portraying South Africa as a xenophobic nation. She expressed concern over what she described as the continued circulation of false information regarding developments in the country. Police offer different accountSouth African police said preliminary investigations suggest the killing may have been linked to an attempted extortion rather than xenophobic violence. According to police, a 35-year-old Ghanaian man was shot inside a barbershop on Monday after unidentified gunmen allegedly demanded money from him before opening fire. Authorities also disputed the victim’s identity, the date of the incident and the location provided by the Ghanaian government. Despite the South African position, a spokesperson for Ghana’s Foreign Ministry said Accra was standing by its earlier statement. Diplomatic tensions deepenThe latest disagreement has further strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola had earlier cautioned Ghana against making public statements based on what he described as incomplete or misleading information regarding the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Department of International Relations also urged foreign governments to verify information through diplomatic channels before making public pronouncements. The row comes as thousands of migrants continue to leave South Africa following weeks of anti-immigrant protests, with several African countries organising evacuation flights for their citizens amid growing security concerns. Spread the word