Bosome Freho MP Urges Government to Protect Ghanaians in South Africa Through Diplomacy

The Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, has called on the Ghanaian government to adopt a measured, diplomatic approach in safeguarding the estimated 49,000 Ghanaians still living in South Africa, following a wave of xenophobic attacks that prompted the recent evacuation of some nationals from the country.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee stressed that while the evacuation was commendable, it was not a sustainable long-term solution. The real priority, he argued, should be the safety, rights, and livelihoods of the thousands of Ghanaians who continue to reside and work in South Africa.

“There are about 49,000 Ghanaians still living in South Africa, and this calls for diplomacy and tactfulness to protect our citizens living in South Africa,” Mr Asafo-Adjei told the House.

The MP’s remarks come at a moment of heightened anxiety across the West African diaspora in South Africa, where recurring episodes of xenophobic violence have periodically targeted foreign nationals from other African countries. The attacks have drawn sharp criticism from governments and regional organisations alike.

A Call for Sustained Engagement

Mr Asafo-Adjei urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify its diplomatic initiatives, working not only bilaterally with South African counterparts but also through continental and regional bodies such as the African Union and ECOWAS. The MP stressed that Ghana’s long-standing bilateral relationship with South Africa should serve as a foundation for cooperative action rather than passive observation.

He acknowledged the government’s recent evacuation efforts as a positive step, but cautioned that ad-hoc interventions without continuous diplomatic pressure would fail to prevent future incidents. The MP called for a formal monitoring and reporting mechanism to track xenophobic incidents affecting Ghanaian citizens abroad, enabling swifter government responses.

His position echoes a growing chorus of concern from Ghana’s legislature. Ghana’s Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has similarly condemned the xenophobic violence and called for a continental response, signalling that the issue has bipartisan support in Parliament.

The Broader Picture

South Africa’s recurring episodes of xenophobic violence have long been a source of tension on the continent. Migrant communities from West Africa, including Ghanaians, Nigerians, and Senegalese, have frequently found themselves targets of hostility driven by competition for jobs and services in South Africa’s strained urban centres.

For Ghana, the stakes are both humanitarian and economic. Ghanaians in South Africa contribute significantly to remittance flows back home, and many have built small businesses and professional networks that benefit both countries. The loss of these livelihoods—or worse, the loss of life—carries consequences that extend far beyond the immediate violence.

The Bosome Freho MP’s intervention is a reminder that protecting citizens abroad is not simply a matter of emergency evacuations. It requires the kind of sustained, strategic diplomatic engagement that builds institutional safeguards and keeps the issue on the bilateral agenda long after the headlines fade.

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