President John Dramani Mahama has called on the African Union (AU) to intervene in the recurring xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa, warning that the situation poses a threat to continental integration and solidarity.
Speaking at a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, July 22, President Mahama said the attacks had reached a point where they could no longer be treated as isolated incidents.
He said Ghana had been forced to commit significant resources to evacuate citizens affected by the attacks, with more evacuations still ongoing.
“At a very high cost to us, we had to charter planes to go to South Africa to evacuate our citizens. We operated three charter flights, and we are operating another three because there are still about 900 who have signed up to come back home,” he said.
The President added that government had also provided reintegration support for returning citizens, including allowances and other assistance, stressing that the matter required a broader continental response.
“I think that the AU should take an interest in this issue because it has the potential to wreck everything that we have worked for in terms of African integration and solidarity,” he said.
President Mahama described the attacks as traumatic for affected countries and said they undermine efforts to strengthen unity among African nations.
“The countries that have been victims of these xenophobic attacks, it has been very traumatic. It sets all of us back,” he stated.
He also expressed concern about what he described as an insufficient response from South African authorities, particularly following the deaths of Ghanaian citizens.
“We lost two of our citizens who have been killed. It doesn’t appear the South African authorities are responding to the magnitude that one would expect them to do,” President Mahama said.
He alleged that individuals responsible for inciting the attacks were known but continued to operate without facing consequences.
“The persons who are fanning these attacks are known, and they have been left free to do what they want to do. They are doing it with impunity,” he added.
The President disclosed that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had sent a delegation to Ghana on July 21 to discuss the concerns raised by the government.
According to him, Ghana’s decision to highlight the issue was not aimed at damaging relations with South Africa but rather encouraging openness and accountability.
“I told them that Ghana does not harbour any malice against South Africa, but we are raising it so it gives them the platform to explain what they are doing to the world,” he said.
President Mahama said the issue is expected to be tabled for discussion at the next AU meeting as Ghana pushes for a coordinated solution to protect African citizens across the continent.
