President John Dramani Mahama has renewed Ghana’s call for the African Union (AU) to formally address the recurring xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, describing the issue as a threat to African unity, continental integration and cross-border investments.
Speaking after bilateral talks on the sidelines of the AU Extraordinary Summit in Accra, President Mahama disclosed that AU Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf had acknowledged the urgency of the matter and agreed that it should be tabled for discussion at the next AU Summit.
According to the President, Ghana has officially written to the AU Commission requesting that the issue be included on the agenda, arguing that the continent must confront the problem instead of ignoring it.
He stressed that Ghana’s position should not be interpreted as hostility towards South Africa, but rather as a call for a collective African response to a challenge affecting citizens across the continent.
President Mahama revealed that he had conveyed Ghana’s concerns earlier in the week during a meeting in Accra with a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“I made Ghana’s position clear to the envoy. We do not harbour ill will toward South Africa. However, we remain deeply concerned about the attacks and the significant capital losses suffered by people from various countries on the continent,” he said.
The President warned that the attacks undermine the ideals of African solidarity and weaken efforts to advance continental integration under the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He argued that “sweeping this matter under the carpet” would not address its underlying causes, insisting that the AU should provide a formal platform for member states to deliberate on the issue and identify lasting solutions.
According to him, placing the matter on the AU Summit agenda would also provide South Africa with an opportunity to present its perspective while enabling African leaders to collectively develop measures to safeguard the lives, dignity and investments of Africans living and working across the continent.
President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to working with all AU member states to promote peace, protect the rights of African citizens and strengthen continental unity.
“Our strength as a continent lies in our unity,” he stated, adding that Ghana remains committed to finding lasting solutions that protect the dignity, safety and investments of every African wherever they reside on the continent.
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