Ghana declines state visit by South African president amid row over xenophobic attacks

Wednesday, June 8, 2026 - The Ghanaian government has reportedly rejected a request for a state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as diplomatic tensions deepen over a wave of xenophobic attacks on Ghanaian nationals and other immigrants in South Africa.

Diplomatic sources in Accra and Pretoria told the Daily Graphic that the decision comes amid a sharp escalation in anti-foreigner attacks across parts of South Africa. The violence has already forced around 1,000 Ghanaians to return home, with another 900 said to be in the process of registering for repatriation.

The situation turned deadly on June 30, when a Ghanaian national, 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, was killed during a wave of demonstrations by xenophobic groups targeting African migrants in South Africa on June 30, 2026.

A South African source said Accra was "deeply concerned about the safety and dignity of its citizens" and could not justify hosting a high-profile visit "under the current circumstances."

On the Ghanaian side, officials pointed to a second worry: the president's own safety. With anti-migrant sentiment running high, there were fears that Ramaphosa's presence could provoke a hostile public reaction, a risk Accra was not willing to take.

"The government's position on the protection of Ghanaians abroad is non-negotiable," one source said, adding that a visit in the current climate could do more harm than good for both leaders.

South African authorities have, however, disputed Ghana’s account of the incident, describing the claims surrounding the killing as “factually incorrect” and “not based on fact.”

The South African government said no deaths were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which attracted thousands of protesters in parts of the country.

South Africa’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said Ghana’s characterisation of the incident was misleading and risked creating a negative perception of South Africa.

“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” she was quoted as saying in a statement.