Dr Yirenyi Gyekye Darko, the Chairman of the Ghanaian Community in Mthatha, South Africa, has cried over the growing Xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Chairman of the Ghanaian Community in Mthatha, South Africa, detailed that Ghanaians are not safe, adding that other nationals, especially Nigerians and Zimbabweans, are also not safe.
According to him, they are only trusting God for protection.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, April 22, Dr Darko stated, “Ghanaians are not safe. Other nationals, especially Nigerians and Zimbabweans, are also not safe. We are only trusting God for protection. For now, in the Eastern Cape, it is not as extreme as in other provinces, and there has not been recent harassment in Mthatha. But generally, the situation remains worrying”.
“The only reason they give is that foreigners are taking their jobs. That is the main point of contention,” he added.
“We urge officials in Ghana to liaise with the High Commissioner in South Africa so that together they can help bring the situation under control,” he appealed.
Meanwhile, a video has surfaced on social media with some South Africans sacking non-Citizens from a government hospital amid the xenophobic attacks by South Africans.
In the viral video, a man was heard saying, “If you know you’re not a South African citizen, may you please stand up and leave our hospital”.
The group of South Africans demanded that the doctors and nurses at the hospital discharge all foreigners who were receiving treatment, with a man instructing the doctors at the hospital “to stabilise and discharge” the patients to seek medical attention at private health facilities.
According to the South Africans in the viral video, foreigners are not allowed to seek medical attention in public hospitals.
Earlier, a viral street confrontation video from South Africa shows activist Victoria Africa commonly known as Queen Vee and a group of locals questioning a Ghanaian man and other African migrants about their travel documents.
According to Victoria Africa, South Africans are tired of other African countries migrating to their country and refusing to fix their own countries.
The footage has triggered an intense online debate about xenophobia and migration.
Meanwhile, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has broken his silence following a viral video of some South Africans confronting a Ghanaian man on the streets.
The Foreign Affairs Minister detailed that he held a telephone conversation with my South African counterpart, His Excellency Ronald Lamola, who has expressed his empathy with the victims and promised full-scale investigations.
According to Ablakwa, Ghana’s diplomatic mission has located the victim in the viral video and offered him consular assistance.
He further disclosed that no Ghanaian life has been lost, adding that the Mahama Administration remains uncompromising about the welfare and safety of Ghanaians both at home and abroad.
In a post shared on X, “I have this morning held a telephone conversation with my South African counterpart, His Excellency Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. I called him on the trending videos about Ghanaians coming under extremely disturbing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The South African Foreign Minister has expressed his empathy with the victims and promised full-scale investigations into the depressing incidents.
The Government of South Africa is set to hold a briefing with African Ambassadors later today”.
He further added, “I am also able to confirm that since yesterday, I have been in constant contact with Ghana’s High Commissioner in South Africa, His Excellency Benjamin Quarshie, coordinating our response.
I am gladdened that so far, colleagues in our diplomatic mission have located the main victim in the viral video and are offering consular assistance. He is doing very well.
No Ghanaian life has been lost. We urge calm and confidence in our collective capacity to protect Ghanaians”.
Ablakwa further assured Ghanaians, saying, “ Let me assure compatriots that the Mahama Administration remains uncompromising about the welfare and safety of Ghanaians both at home and abroad. We are determined to guarantee the protection of all citizens.
May these regrettable incidents never quench our Pan-African love and solidarity for each other. The overwhelming majority of Africans are united and share an unbreakable bond — we shall not be divided by the hatred of a few fringe elements”.