The High Commissioner of Ghana to Pretoria, Benjamin Anani Quashie, has led a delegation on a consular fact-finding mission to East London in the Eastern Cape Province to assess reports of xenophobic tensions affecting foreign nationals, including Ghanaians.
The mission engaged provincial authorities and members of the Ghanaian community to better understand conditions on the ground, identify urgent needs, and strengthen communication channels.
This follows major protests held on April 28 and 29 in South Africa by a coalition of anti-migration groups.
The demonstrations formed part of a coordinated anti-immigration mobilisation organised in cities including Pretoria and Johannesburg, with groups such as March and March rallying supporters over concerns linked to undocumented migration, employment pressures, and access to public services.
The High Commissioner urged Ghanaians to remain law-abiding, stay vigilant, and promptly report any threats or incidents to the appropriate authorities, while encouraging them to rely on verified updates from the High Commission.
The visit was welcomed by local Ghanaians, with community leaders describing it as a significant show of support during a period of fear and uncertainty. They noted that it marked one of the first direct high-level diplomatic engagements in the province during the current tensions, calling it a timely morale boost for affected nationals.
The engagement reflects a more proactive, “boots-on-the-ground” diplomatic approach, extending outreach beyond Pretoria to ensure Ghanaian citizens in outlying areas are not excluded from protection and communication efforts during periods of heightened tension.
The mission is expected to produce province-specific recommendations aimed at strengthening response mechanisms and improving the protection of Ghanaian nationals in South Africa, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens abroad.
The protests caused significant disruption to business activity, with several shops, both foreign-owned and local, temporarily shutting down amid fears of looting and possible violence. Security forces were deployed to manage crowd control, while police monitored key hotspots in central business districts to prevent escalation.
Although the demonstrations were largely contained without widespread national violence, isolated tensions and concerns of xenophobic confrontations were reported in some areas. This prompted several diplomatic missions, including Ghana’s, to issue precautionary safety advisories to their nationals.
Story by: Francis Sowah
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