Ghana formally requested the postponement of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's planned state visit following renewed xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians in South Africa, according to a detailed Business Insider Africa report. While South Africa maintains that both governments mutually agreed to delay the trip, the decision came amid growing public anger over violence targeting Ghanaian citizens.
Why was the visit postponed?
President Ramaphosa was expected to visit Ghana in early August. However, Ghanaian authorities asked South Africa to put the trip on hold, stating it was not the right time for a state visit. Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu explained that Ghana informed South Africa the current atmosphere surrounding xenophobic attacks made the visit inappropriate. The government also feared the visit could trigger public protests, with many Ghanaians questioning why their country should host the South African leader while fellow citizens were returning home over safety concerns.
What led to the tensions?
Relations worsened after anti-immigrant protests intensified in parts of South Africa around an unofficial June 30 deadline reportedly set by groups demanding undocumented foreigners leave the country. Several specific incidents fuelled the diplomatic fallout.
A Ghanaian man was killed: Ghana said Bashiru Isak, a Ghanaian national, was shot dead during the unrest in Cape Town. According to an official Xinhua News brief on Ghana's condemnation, the foreign ministry directly linked his murder to xenophobic violence. South Africa rejected that claim: Police strongly countered that narrative. In an official South African Police Service statement published by Xinhua, authorities insisted that the victim was actually killed a day before the protests in an extortion-related shooting, maintaining the incident was unrelated to anti-migrant demonstrations.
A viral video added to the outrage: Another incident that angered many Ghanaians was a viral video showing a Ghanaian man, Emmanuel Asamoah, being confronted and told to “go fix his country”. The clip spread widely online, adding to concerns about the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Hundreds have returned home: The Ghanaian government has also been helping citizens return from South Africa. Officials say about 1,000 Ghanaians have already gone back home, while nearly 900 others have registered for evacuation.
South Africa says it wasn’t rejected
South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya denied reports that President Ramaphosa’s visit was flatly rejected. He said both countries agreed to postpone the trip and are discussing a new date through diplomatic channels.
What’s next?
Although neither country has cut diplomatic ties, relations have become increasingly strained. Ghana wants stronger assurances that its citizens in South Africa will be protected before high-level engagements resume. Until then, President Ramaphosa’s visit remains on hold as both governments work to ease tensions.
