The Ghanaian government has rejected a planned state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa following the killing of a Ghanaian citizen and growing concerns over reported xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa.
The decision comes in the wake of the death of 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, who Ghanaian authorities say was killed during demonstrations associated with renewed anti-immigrant violence on June 30, 2026.
Government sources said it was considered inappropriate to proceed with the high-level diplomatic engagement while concerns remained over the safety of Ghanaians living in South Africa.
President Ramaphosa had been scheduled to undertake a state visit to Ghana during the first week of August, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing issues of mutual interest. However, Ghana has indicated that resolving the concerns surrounding the reported attacks on foreign nationals must take priority before the visit can go ahead.
The government has also lodged a formal protest with South African authorities over the death of Mr Isak and what it describes as the increasing insecurity facing Ghanaian nationals in the country.
According to Ghanaian officials, Mr Isak was shot dead during what they described as anti-immigrant demonstrations in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township, where protests were reportedly linked to renewed xenophobic attacks.
South African authorities have strongly rejected that account, insisting Ghana’s version of events does not reflect what occurred.
Officials in Pretoria maintain that no fatalities were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which drew thousands of protesters in several parts of the country.
South Africa’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, criticised Ghana’s claims, arguing they misrepresented developments in the country.
“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” she said in a statement.
“The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable,” she added.
The disagreement has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two African nations and reignited concerns over the safety of foreign nationals living in South Africa.
While Ghana is demanding stronger measures to protect its citizens and prevent further attacks, South Africa continues to reject allegations that the recent demonstrations were characterised by xenophobic violence.
Despite the latest diplomatic row, Ghana and South Africa have long enjoyed close bilateral relations, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, diplomacy and regional affairs. Whether the planned state visit will be rescheduled is expected to depend on efforts by both governments to address the issues surrounding the death of the Ghanaian national and broader concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
