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Ghana has escalated a diplomatic dispute with South Africa over a recent wave of anti-immigrant protests, summoning South Africa's envoy in Accra and requesting that the African Union address what it calls "xenophobic attacks" on its citizens. The move has drawn responses from both governments, with South Africa vowing to investigate while also dismissing some videos as fake.

According to multiple reports, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner to Ghana, Thando Dalamba, on Thursday to protest several incidents involving Ghanaians. In one widely circulated video, a Ghanaian man is seen being confronted by a group demanding to see his documents, then told to "go and fix his country" even after producing them, according to Ghana's foreign affairs ministry, which says the man is a legal resident.

Ablakwa described the incidents as "extremely disturbing xenophobic attacks" in a statement, as reported by Africa News and other outlets. He also held a phone call with his South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, on Wednesday, who "expressed his empathy with the victims and promised full-scale investigations," according to Ablakwa's account shared on social media.

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the story varies across outlets in tone and emphasis. Africa News and BBC reporting focused heavily on the video evidence and Ghana's formal protest, while AllAfrica's reports included the South African government's denial of some footage and its pledge to act. Deutsche Welle highlighted the regional dimension, noting that Nigeria had also summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner over the protests.

A key point of divergence is the authenticity of the viral videos. The South African government, as reported by BBC and AllAfrica, has condemned the circulation of what it called "fake videos and images," saying they were "intended to undermine the good reputation of South Africa internationally." This position contrasts with Ghanaian officials, who have treated the videos as evidence of genuine attacks. The discrepancy is central to the dispute, with Pretoria insisting that "the government has nothing to hide" while urging the public to verify information before sharing it.

Another divergence concerns the severity of the situation. While all sources agree that no Ghanaian lives have been lost, according to Ablakwa's statement, the tone of reporting ranges from conciliatory in some AllAfrica articles—which emphasize South Africa's pledge to investigate and the empathy expressed by Lamola—to more critical in Deutsche Welle's coverage, which notes that xenophobia in South Africa "has been accompanied by occasional outbursts of deadly violence."

Key claims

  • Ghana's foreign minister held a phone call with South Africa's foreign minister over the incidents, during which the latter promised full-scale investigations (reported by multiple sources, including Africa News and AllAfrica).
  • Ghana summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner to Accra to lodge a formal protest (reported by BBC and Africa News).
  • No Ghanaian lives have been lost in the incidents, according to Ghana's foreign minister (reported by AllAfrica and Africa News).
  • South Africa's government has condemned what it calls "fake videos and images" allegedly showing attacks on foreign nationals (reported by BBC and AllAfrica).
  • Ghana has written to the African Union asking it to discuss the xenophobic attacks at an upcoming summit (reported by AllAfrica and BBC).
  • South Africa's acting police minister has pledged "decisive action" against perpetrators, describing the attacks as "unlawful" (reported by Africa News).
  • Ghana plans to evacuate 300 of its citizens from South Africa, according to Foreign Minister Ablakwa (reported by BBC).
  • Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner over the protests (reported by Deutsche Welle and AllAfrica).
  • Mozambique is expected to become the latest country to complain to Pretoria about the treatment of its citizens, though this has not been independently confirmed (reported by a single outlet, AllAfrica).

Perspectives

Ghana's position

Ghana's government has taken a firm stance, branding the incidents as xenophobic attacks and demanding action. Foreign Minister Ablakwa has been vocal, using social media to outline his concerns and calling for AU intervention. He has also emphasized Ghana's commitment to the rule of law and the protection of its citizens, while urging calm and noting that the incidents "should never quench our Pan-African love and solidarity."

South Africa's response

South Africa has walked a tightrope between condemning violence and pushing back against what it sees as misinformation. Officials, including Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, have condemned attacks on foreign nationals as "unlawful" and promised to arrest perpetrators. At the same time, the government has insisted that some videos are fake, suggesting they are designed to tarnish the country's reputation. President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the events as "isolated acts of criminality" that do not reflect government policy.

Regional and international reactions

Several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, have issued advisories to their citizens in South Africa or expressed concern. Nigeria has gone further, offering to repatriate its nationals. The African Union has been asked to address the issue, with Ghana specifically requesting that it be placed on the agenda of the upcoming Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. Some analysts, like South African journalist Ferial Haffajee, have pointed to "populist political entrepreneurs" exploiting unemployment and inequality to fuel anti-migrant sentiment.

The role of misinformation

The South African government's emphasis on "fake videos" raises questions about the role of social media in inflaming tensions. While some footage appears genuine, officials have not verified all clips. This has led to a war of narratives, with Ghana treating the videos as evidence and South Africa dismissing some as manipulation. The lack of independent verification of the videos complicates the picture, and it remains unclear how widespread the incidents actually are.