The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that the African Union Commission has formally assured Ghana in writing that its petition seeking continental action against xenophobic attacks on African nationals in South Africa will be tabled for deliberation at the AU Summit expected to convene in January 2027.
Mr Ablakwa made the disclosure at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra, where he provided an update on Ghana’s May 6 petition to the continental body over the recurring attacks.
“I can therefore confirm that the African Union Commission has formally written to the Government of Ghana in response to our petition and has clearly indicated that the matter will be tabled for deliberations at the AU Summit, expected to convene in January 2027,” he stated.
Ghana’s petition, addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, described the recurring attacks as a matter of urgent continental concern requiring collective action. It highlighted the loss of lives, attacks on African migrants, destruction of businesses and investments, and threats to African unity, free movement and continental integration.
“Ghana believes that the best way to address this matter is not to look away and pretend nothing serious has happened, but to bring it into the open and have an honest, good-faith discussion on this concern and how best to address it, including the root causes of these xenophobic attacks,” Mr Ablakwa said.
The petition was initially expected to be considered at the African Union’s Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. However, following the postponement of that meeting, Ghana secured the unanimous endorsement of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to continue pursuing the matter within the framework of the African Union.
The matter was further raised by President John Dramani Mahama during bilateral talks with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, on the sidelines of the AU Extraordinary Summit held in Accra in July.
President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s call for the issue to be formally placed on the agenda of the next AU Summit, arguing that ignoring the crisis would not address its underlying causes.
The President stressed that Ghana harboured no ill will towards South Africa but remained deeply concerned about the attacks and the significant losses suffered by foreign nationals who had been forced to abandon their investments and return to their home countries.
He noted that placing the matter on the AU agenda would provide South Africa with a formal and constructive platform to present its perspective while allowing African leaders to collectively work towards a lasting solution.
The AU Commission Chairperson also acknowledged the need for the issue to be discussed at the continental level, noting that nationals of several African countries had been affected by the attacks. He also disclosed that he had raised the matter directly with the South African authorities during a recent visit to the country.
The Chairperson commended the South African government for publicly condemning the violence but expressed concern about the apparent impunity of some perpetrators.
The latest written response from the African Union Commission, according to Ablakwa now confirms that Ghana’s petition has been formally taken up and will be placed before African leaders for deliberation at the next summit.
The development comes after Ghana evacuated 1,964 nationals from South Africa between May 27 and September 4, 2026, following renewed xenophobic violence and concerns over the safety of Ghanaian citizens in the country.
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