The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has called on Ghanaians domiciled in South Africa to consider returning home for their own safety.
He makes the point that given the rising attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, it does not make sense for Ghanaians to continue living in that country.
“Our citizens need to reconsider staying in South Africa and come home,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, July 4.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E Benjamin Quashie, said there are 17,000 Ghanaians living in South Africa per their records.
“We have about 17,000 Ghanaians in South Africa,” he also said on the Key Points.
Benjamin Anani Quashie further said that the key eyewitness in the killing of a Ghanaian in South Africa has gone into hiding because he fears for his life.
Quahsie says that the High Commission is seeking witness protection so he can testify safely.
“The key eyewitness has gone into hiding because he fears for his life. We are seeking witness protection so he can testify safely,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday July 4.
Anani Quashie further said that Ghanaian authorities have requested an autopsy report on the Ghanaian who was killed in South Africa.
He made the point that the accounts of the South African Police on the killing of the Ghanaian contain factual inaccuracies.
“We have requested an autopsy report from the South African authorities and until we get it, we maintain the shooting incident happened on June 30; not June 29 as claimed by the police. –
“South African authorities have admitted they got the name of the deceased wrong but have refused to make the correction in their correspondence,” he said.
Quashie further said that the Ghanaian who was killed in South Africa in the ongoing xenophobic attacks was working with a Zimbabwean when the incident happened.
Contrary to claims by the South African Police that the Ghanaian was killed in an extortion, the High Commissioner said that based on an eyewitness account from the Zimbabwean, the incident was not extortion; rather, it was a case of South Africans stampeding them in the shop to drive them away.
Benjamin Quashie further said that they have been looking for the Zimbabwean to come in to testify as the matter is taken up by Ghanaian authorities; however, out of fear, he has also absconded.
“The deceased was working with one Zimbabwean; the two of them were working in a shop when the incident happened. He has also absconded because
“The crime has been committed. the man has been killed in cold blood; it was not a case of extortion; it was a case of people coming to tell them to leave the country,” he said.
Earlier,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it received with profound shock and sadness reports of the fatal shooting of a Ghanaian national, Mr. Bashiru Isak, aged 40 years in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday, 30th June, 2026 during anti- immigrant demonstrations linked to ongoing xenophobic attacks.
The Government of Ghana, in the statement issued by the Ministry, condemned, in the strongest terms, this “senseless act of violence and the rising tide of xenophobia targeting African nationals,” including Ghanaians, in South Africa.
The statement said that the taking of any life is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice without delay.
On the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has formally registered Ghana’s protest with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and has subsequently filed a complaint with the South African Police Service.
The Ministry said these steps were carried out after having confirmed the identity of the deceased and notified the bereaved family.
At the request of the Government of Ghana, an autopsy has since been performed on the body, it said.
“Ghana demands from the South African authorities a full, transparent and expedited investigation leading to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. We also reiterate our call on the South African authorities to ensure enhanced protection for all Ghanaian nationals in affected communities.
“The Ministry, through its High Commission in Pretoria, has formally registered Ghana’s protest to the South African authorities and has reiterated our expectation that, South Africa, in line with its international obligations, will guarantee the safety, dignity and rights of all foreign nationals on its territory, including Ghanaians,” the statement said.
It would be recalled that Ghana has already transmitted a petition to the African Union Commission (AUC). Our formal petition on xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa remains active and “we expect the AU to treat the matter with the urgency it demands at its next statutory meeting.”
