President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a delegation to him over Ghana’s push for South Africa’s xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals to be discussed at the African Union (AU).
According to Mahama, Ramaphosa sent a delegation to him, and he explained to them why there is a need to discuss the recurring xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa.
Mahama revealed that the discussion at the African Union will allow South Africa to explain to the world what they are doing.
He also revealed that despite the xenophobic attacks on Ghanaian nationals that led to the deaths of two Ghanaians and several injured in the hospital, Ghana do not hold any malice against South Africa.
For the countries that have been victims, it has been a very traumatic affair; when something like this happens, it sets all of us back. People have been displaced, their properties and businesses have been closed, and we lost two of our citizens who were killed, and others were injured.
Speaking during a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssou, at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, July 22, Mahama stated, “It does not appear that the South African authorities are responding to the magnitude that one would expect them to do. The people who are funding these xenophobic attacks are known, but they have been left free to continue what they want to do. It has become something they are doing with impunity at a high cost to us.
We had to charter a plane to South Africa to evacuate our citizens; we operated a 3-charter flight, and we are still operating another 3-charter flight because there are still about 900 who have signed on to come back voluntarily; they come back with nothing”.
Mahama further added, “As the continental body AU should take an interest in this issue, it has the potential to wreck everything we have worked for. African sovereignty and integration. We sent a notice that we want to put it on the agenda at the AU meeting in Egypt; unfortunately, that meeting was postponed, but we are hoping that at the next opportunity we will be able to put it on the agenda”.
Yesterday, President Ramaphosa sent a delegation to me; we met with them, and I explained the reason why we need to discuss it. Sometimes these things happen, and we want to sweep them under the carpet, but when we do that, we do not cure what the problem is. I told them Ghana don’t harbor any malice against South Africa, but we are raising it as an issue that will even give South Africa an opportunity to take that platform and explain what they are doing to the world”.
The development comes on the heels of the government of Ghana’s rejection of a planned state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The information gathered from reports detailed that the South African President’s visit was declined due to the killing of a Ghanaian national and reported xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaians in South Africa.
According to sources within the corridors of power, the decision was taken amid growing concerns over the safety of Ghanaians living in South Africa.
Reports revealed President Ramaphosa was expected to visit Ghana in the first week of August, providing an opportunity for both countries to strengthen bilateral relations.
Nonetheless, the Ghanaian government indicated that the current situation requires serious attention before such high-level diplomatic engagements could proceed.
Meanwhile, South African authorities have contested Ghana’s account of the incident, labelling the claims surrounding the killing as “factually incorrect” and “not based on fact.”
According to the South African government, no deaths were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which attracted thousands of protesters in parts of the country.
Mmamoloko Kubayi, South Africa’s Justice Minister, stressed that Ghana’s characterisation of the incident was misleading and risked creating a negative picture 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.
“The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable,” she added.
Watch the video below:
“Yesterday, President Ramaphosa sent a delegation to me, and I explained the reason why we need to discuss it. Sometimes these things happen, and we want to sweep them under the carpet, but when we do that, we do not cure what the problem is.”
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) July 22, 2026
— President John Dramani Mahama… pic.twitter.com/sgkgKtI2U7
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♬ Unknown – FullMix – Powers Music
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