“South Africans Are Hostile to Fellow Africans” – Bosome Freho MP Backs Evacuation of Ghanaians

Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Hon. Nana Asafo Agyei Ayeh, has strongly condemned the xenophobic attacks against foreign Africans in South Africa, describing the actions as outrageous and contrary to international protocols governing African unity and free movement.

Speaking on the ongoing attacks and the evacuation of stranded Ghanaians on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, the MP said Ghana remains the “hope of Africa” despite the hostility faced by its citizens abroad.

“I am proud to be Ghanaian. We have demonstrated that we are the hope of Africa, irrespective of the attacks by South Africans,” he stated.

Hon. Ayeh commended the Government of Ghana and the Minister for Foreign Affairs for responding swiftly to calls for intervention and successfully evacuating the first batch of Ghanaians from South Africa.

According to him, the attacks expose what he described as growing intolerance and violence against fellow Africans living in South Africa.

“The evacuation signals to the whole world that South Africans are hostile, violent, and cannot tolerate fellow Africans,” he stressed.

The MP noted that African Union protocols permit Africans to travel and stay within member states for up to 90 days, subject to renewal, and argued that immigration-related issues should be handled legally rather than through violence.

“If someone overstays their permit, it becomes a legal matter, not a reason for physical attacks,” he added.

Hon. Ayeh further recalled Ghana’s historic support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, saying many African countries, including Ghana, sacrificed resources to help South Africans attain freedom.

“We all helped them gain independence, and Ghana even supported them financially to break free from apartheid,” he said.

He also revealed that they had earlier advised the government to escalate the matter to the African Union and push for xenophobic attacks to be declared one of the gravest threats facing the continent.

The Bosome Freho MP urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to strengthen diplomatic ties with other African countries ahead of any AU deliberations on the matter, warning that South Africa could attempt to outmaneuver Ghana diplomatically if broader continental support is not secured.