Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has appealed to Ghanaians living in South Africa to prioritise their safety and consider returning home as anti-foreigner attacks continue.
Speaking on the recent killing of Ghanaian national Bashiru Isaka on the KeyPoints with Alfred Ocansey, the MP said t he security situation has become increasingly dangerous and called on Ghanaians in affected areas to stay in close contact with the Ghana High Commission.
“There is nothing more precious than life,” he said on July 4.
Mr. Bediako Baidoo noted that although the Government of Ghana had facilitated the repatriation of some citizens, the process had been voluntary, as authorities could not compel Ghanaians to return home.
“If you find yourself in such a situation, please report to the High Commission and find your way back to Ghana. If you have life, you have everything,” he urged.
He expressed disappointment with the response of South African authorities, saying earlier assurances that those responsible for attacks on foreign nationals would be brought to justice had not translated into meaningful action.
“I would have thought that by now the authorities in South Africa would have taken action,” he said.
According to him, while citizens have the right to demonstrate, they have no legal authority to take the law into their own hands by attacking people they suspect to be undocumented migrants.
“It is not for citizens to pick up arms and insist on enforcing the law. South Africa has law enforcement agencies for that purpose,” he stated.
By Christabel Success Treve
