President John Dramani Mahama has criticised South Africa’s handling of recent xenophobic attacks, arguing that authorities appeared to have done little to protect foreign nationals caught in the violence, including hundreds of Ghanaians who were later evacuated for safety.
Speaking at Chatham House, President Mahama recounted how the situation escalated in parts of South Africa, particularly Durban and surrounding areas, leaving many migrants exposed and without adequate state protection. He said Ghana was compelled to intervene after receiving reports of growing insecurity affecting its citizens.
According to him, nearly 200 Ghanaians eventually sought refuge at Ghana’s diplomatic mission as tensions intensified. He described conditions in which foreign nationals were reportedly denied access to basic services, including healthcare facilities, solely on the basis of nationality.
He stated that the environment became increasingly unsafe, prompting urgent action from Ghanaian authorities. With what he described as limited visible response from local institutions, Ghana organised an evacuation operation to bring its citizens home.
President Mahama confirmed that at least one evacuation flight had already been completed, with additional flights planned for those who still wished to return voluntarily.
He emphasised that the decision to evacuate was driven by necessity rather than preference, given the absence of sufficient protection on the ground at the time.
While strongly criticising the situation, the President also called for a balanced regional perspective, describing the events as unfortunate and urging empathy toward South Africa as it confronts internal social and economic pressures.
At the same time, he urged South African authorities to address the underlying drivers of xenophobic violence, warning that recurring incidents continue to undermine African unity and strain diplomatic relations across the continent.
The episode adds to a long-standing pattern of xenophobic tensions in South Africa that have previously triggered similar evacuations and diplomatic interventions by affected African states.
President Mahama’s remarks underscore Ghana’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad while advocating for stronger regional cooperation and long term solutions to prevent future outbreaks of targeted violence.
