President John Dramani Mahama has assured South Africa that Ghana bears no ill will towards the country despite concerns over xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals and the losses suffered by Africans living and doing business there.

He said Ghana’s position is not an attack on South Africa but a call for dialogue and collective action to address concerns affecting Africans across the continent.

In a post shared on his Facebook page after a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, at the Jubilee House on July 22, 2026, President Mahama disclosed that he communicated Ghana’s stance to a special envoy dispatched by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting in Accra earlier in the week.

“I made Ghana’s position clear to the envoy. We do not harbour ill will toward South Africa. However, we remain deeply concerned about the attacks and the significant capital losses suffered by people from various countries on the continent,” he stated.

The president noted that the Chairperson of the African Union Commission had acknowledged the urgency of the matter and has agreed to table it for discussion at the next AU Summit.

“I am pleased that AU Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has acknowledged the urgent need to table this matter for discussion at the next AU Summit,” he added.

President Mahama said xenophobic attacks undermine the principles of African unity and efforts towards deeper continental integration.

He warned that ignoring the situation would not resolve the underlying causes of the attacks.

“Sweeping this matter under the carpet will not resolve its root causes. That is why Ghana officially wrote to the AU Commission requesting that this issue be placed on the agenda for the next summit,” he stated.

President Mahama pushes AU to tackle xenophobic attacks in South Africa

According to President Mahama, discussing the matter at the AU level would provide South Africa with a formal platform to present its perspective while allowing member states to work together towards a lasting solution.

He said Ghana remains committed to working with all AU member states to protect the dignity, safety and investments of Africans across the continent.

For nearly two decades, South Africa has suffered recurring bouts of xenophobic attacks, resulting in deaths, displacement, and widespread fear.

See the post below :



JKB/VPO

HEALTH FOCUS: What every mother should know about maternal mental health