Ghana has officially reported South Africa (SA) to continental body, the Africa Union (AU), following weeks of xenophobic attacks, targeting African nationals, including Ghanaians living and doing business in the country.
In a statement issued Wednesday, May 6, by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the West African nation demanded that the matter be tabled on the agenda of its Eighth Mid-Year Coordinating Meeting.
The decisive decision comes after complaints of harassment, intimidation, and threats against Ghanaians living and doing business in South Africa.
For weeks, there have been periodic crackdowns and protests linked to immigration resurface. One of the affected Ghanaians who was caught in a video has since been relocated back home.
Emmanuel Asamoah arrived in Accra on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from Johannesburg, accompanied by the Ghana High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quarshie.
The North Tongu constituency Member of Parliament said government is seeking AU intervention, urging regional leaders to uphold free movement, safely, and protection of Africans living in other member states.
Ghana says reporting the issue to the AU is part of efforts to find a regional solution and prevent further escalation.
Ghana’s forward looking action comes the same day a Nigeria senator, Adams Oshiomole proposed for the revocation of licenses of MTN and DISTV as a retaliatory response to these attacks. The two companies located in many African countries including Ghana and Nigeria are originally from Ghana.
In a related development, neighboring Botswana, has cut power exports to South Africa, in a fast-rising diplomatic standoff.
Botswana took the extraordinary step of cutting electricity exports to part of South Africa and closing its borders, citing escalating xenophobic attacks against its citizens.
The sweeping measures, unprecedented in nature in the history of the region’s post-apartheid era, mark as sharp break from years of cordial diplomatic and regional solidarity to the country.
Below is the full statement
By Gifty Boateng