Ghana Declines to Host South African President Ramaphosa Over Alleged Killing of Citizen, Xenophobia Concerns

• Ghana has postponed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned state visit, citing concerns over the reported killing of a Ghanaian citizen and alleged xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians living in South Africa.

Fresh diplomatic tensions have emerged between Ghana and South Africa after the Ghanaian government declined to host South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for a planned state visit, citing concerns over the reported killing of a Ghanaian citizen and alleged xenophobic attacks against its nationals.

President Ramaphosa had been expected in Ghana during the first week of August for a state visit aimed at strengthening the longstanding relationship between both countries and advancing discussions on bilateral cooperation.

However, Ghanaian officials said the visit has been postponed following the death of 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, who the Ghanaian government says was killed during demonstrations linked to renewed attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa on June 30, 2026.

According to Ghana, Isak was shot dead during what it described as “anti-immigrant demonstrations linked to ongoing xenophobic attacks” in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township.

Officials in Accra said postponing the visit reflects Ghana’s growing concern over the safety of its citizens living in South Africa, stressing that protecting Ghanaians abroad must take priority over high-level diplomatic engagements.

The Ghanaian government has also lodged a formal protest with South African authorities over Isak’s death and raised broader concerns about the security of its nationals residing in the country.

South Africa, however, has rejected Ghana’s account of the incident.

Authorities in Pretoria insisted that no fatalities were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which drew thousands of protesters across different parts of the country.

South Africa’s Justice Minister, “Mmamoloko Kubayi,” accused Ghanaian authorities of spreading inaccurate information capable of damaging the country’s international reputation.

“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” Kubayi said in a statement.

She added, “The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable.”

The disagreement has once again drawn attention to the safety of African migrants in South Africa, where previous outbreaks of violence against foreign nationals have repeatedly sparked concern across the continent.

Despite the diplomatic strain, Ghana and South Africa remain among Africa’s closest political and economic partners, maintaining cooperation in trade, investment, regional integration and continental affairs. Officials from both countries are expected to continue diplomatic engagements in an effort to resolve the dispute and preserve their longstanding bilateral relationship.

The latest development follows Ghana’s petition to the African Union over Isak’s death. In a statement issued by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said it received news of the 40-year-old fashion designer’s death with “profound shock and sadness,” describing the incident as “a senseless act of xenophobic brutality.”

The ministry further condemned what it called the growing wave of xenophobia against African migrants and demanded that those responsible for the killing be identified, arrested and prosecuted without delay.