Diplomatic Tensions Rise Between Ghana and South Africa Over Alleged Killing of Ghanaian Migrant
Diplomatic relations between Ghana and South Africa have come under strain following the reported killing of a Ghanaian national during ongoing anti-migrant protests in South Africa, with the two countries offering sharply conflicting accounts of the incident.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it received reports “with profound shock” that 40-year-old Ghanaian national Bashiru Isak was allegedly shot dead on Tuesday in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town, after reportedly being targeted during anti-foreigner demonstrations. The government has since lodged a formal diplomatic protest with South African authorities and filed an official complaint with the South African Police Service, demanding an immediate investigation.
In a strongly worded statement, Ghana condemned the reported killing, insisting that “the taking of any life is unacceptable” and calling for a full, transparent and expedited investigation that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. The ministry further urged South Africa to uphold its international obligations by guaranteeing the safety, dignity and rights of all foreign nationals residing within its borders, including Ghanaian citizens.
However, South African authorities have firmly disputed Ghana’s claims.
South Africa’s Minister of Justice expressed concern over what he described as the continued circulation of “false information” by Ghanaian authorities regarding developments linked to irregular migration in South Africa. According to South African police, there is currently no official record of a murder involving Bashiru Isak in Khayelitsha.
Instead, police confirmed they are investigating the fatal shooting of another Ghanaian national, 35-year-old Kwabena Boagen, who was allegedly killed a day earlier in Nyanga, another Cape Town township. Authorities said Boagen, who lived in Khayelitsha but worked in Nyanga, was attacked while working in a barbershop after suspected extortionists allegedly demanded money from him before opening fire. The attackers reportedly fled the scene and no arrests have been made.
A post-mortem examination is currently underway as part of the investigation.
Responding to Ghana’s allegations, South African police appealed to the Ghanaian government to provide any available evidence relating to the reported Khayelitsha incident to assist investigators.
South African foreign ministry official Clayson Monyela also dismissed claims that a Ghanaian migrant had been killed during anti-migrant protests, describing the reports as a “fabricated tale.”
The controversy comes amid growing anti-immigration demonstrations across South Africa, where activist groups had set Tuesday as an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country. Thousands of protesters marched in major cities demanding stricter immigration enforcement.
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Although police described the demonstrations as largely peaceful, they confirmed that nearly 900 people were arrested, mainly for immigration-related offences and looting.
The rising hostility towards foreign nationals has prompted several African governments, including Ghana, Nigeria and Malawi, to facilitate the voluntary return of citizens seeking to escape intimidation and violence. Reports indicate that approximately 25,000 migrants have already left South Africa in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian media outlet Joy FM reported that Bashiru Isak had lived and worked in South Africa for nearly two decades as a tailor. According to the report, he was allegedly confronted at his shop by individuals accusing him of taking employment opportunities from South Africans before he was fatally shot. Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry says arrangements are being made to repatriate his body for burial while extending condolences to his family.
The ministry has also advised Ghanaians who remain in South Africa to exercise extreme caution, avoid areas experiencing unrest and remain alert as tensions continue.
The incident has once again placed the spotlight on South Africa’s growing anti-migrant sentiment, fuelled by economic hardship and unemployment, which remains above 30 percent. As Africa’s most industrialised economy, South Africa continues to attract migrants from across the continent seeking better economic opportunities, even as public frustration over unemployment and crime increasingly fuels hostility towards foreign nationals.
With Ghana demanding accountability and South Africa disputing key aspects of the case, the incident threatens to further strain diplomatic relations between the two countries while highlighting the broader challenges surrounding migration, security and xenophobia in the region.
