Ghana asks Ramaphosa to defer visit amid xenophobic attacks

Ghana has reportedly asked South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to postpone a visit in August, following recent anti-immigrant protests in the southern African nation that claimed the life of a Ghanaian citizen.

Ghana sent a communication to Pretoria indicating it would prefer the trip be deferred given recent xenophobic sentiment in South Africa, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.

A spokesperson for Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry declined to comment, saying the presidency will make a statement on the matter.

There was evidently some confusion about the Ghanaian president’s request, with  the SABC and other news channels clarifiying that Ramaphosa had not requested a state visit to Ghana.

WATCH | The Presidency has dismissed reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa requested a state visit to Ghana. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says there was no planned visit, responding to media reports circulating in West Africa. pic.twitter.com/xTzBuwMFJZ

— SABC News (@SABCNews) July 7, 2026

South Africa’s spokesperson in The Presidency Vincent Magwenya said the request to Ghana was to confirm the holding of a Bi-National Commission (BNC), which was to be co-chaired by both presidents.

Bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Ghana is coordinated through the BNC, and it was Ghana’s turn to host the meetings, said Magwenya.

The two countries will continue to engage through diplomatic channels to identify a mutually convenient date for the next session of the commission, he added.

Protests against undocumented migrants have grown in South Africa in recent months, culminating in thousands of people taking to the streets on June 30 to demand that they leave the country.

At least six African governments repatriated citizens from the country because of the threat of xenophobic attacks that have targeted African nationals seen by protesters as competing for economic opportunities.

A Ghanaian citizen was shot dead in Cape Town during the demonstrations on June 30, the foreign ministry said. Ghana condemned the killing and registered a complaint with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation and law-enforcement authorities, it said.

© 2026 Bloomberg