Ghana has introduced it’ll evacuate 300 of its residents from South Africa, following a spate of xenophobic incidents and protests in opposition to immigration throughout the nation in latest weeks.
Ghana’s International Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated on Tuesday that President John Dramani Mahama had accepted the operation.
“These distressed Ghanaians had earlier complied with the International Ministry’s advisory and registered with our Excessive Fee in Pretoria to be rescued, following the most recent wave of xenophobic assaults,” he wrote in a message posted on social media platform X (previously Twitter).
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“The Authorities of Ghana shall proceed to safeguard the welfare of all Ghanaians residence and overseas.”
The choice comes after a collection of anti-immigration protests in South Africa, in addition to claims of assaults and intimidation in opposition to different African nationals throughout the nation in latest weeks.
Nigeria and Ghana have each voiced concern over the scenario.
The South African authorities, nevertheless, has rejected all claims of xenophobia.
“South Africans should not xenophobic,” presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya instructed reporters final week. “What you have got is pockets of protest, which is permissible inside our constitutional framework.”
South Africa rejects xenophobia claims over anti-migrant protests
Magwenya stated Africa wants to deal with battle, instability and circumstances of “misgovernment” that have been behind waves of migration throughout the continent.
On the finish of final month, the federal government in Accra summoned South Africa’s excessive commissioner in protest at a number of xenophobic incidents concentrating on Ghanaians.
South Africa is Africa’s main financial system and residential to greater than 3 million foreigners – who male up 5 p.c of the inhabitants.
However unemployment is operating at 30 p.c, fuelling tensions over migrant staff.
Within the worst violence in opposition to immigrants within the final twenty years, 62 folks have been killed in 2008. Violent clashes additionally erupted in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
(with AFP)
