South Africa has stepped up efforts to ease tensions with Ghana after International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola travelled to Accra as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy. The visit forms part of a broader diplomatic campaign that has also seen Lamola represent Ramaphosa in Nigeria as Pretoria works to contain the regional fallout from recent anti-immigrant violence.
Lamola’s visit came just weeks after Ghana postponed several high-level engagements with South Africa, including Ramaphosa’s planned trip to co-chair the two countries’ Bi-National Commission. Both governments agreed to delay the meeting as diplomatic tensions intensified.
The mission, first disclosed by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and later confirmed by Lamola, marks Pretoria’s clearest effort yet to repair relations with one of its key African partners. The stakes extend beyond diplomacy. More than 100 South African companies operate in Ghana across sectors including mining, telecommunications, banking and retail, making stable bilateral ties important for both governments and businesses.
Speaking on the sidelines of the African Union Extraordinary Summit in Accra, Mahama said he used the meeting to reiterate Ghana’s concerns over repeated attacks on foreign nationals and the destruction of African-owned businesses in South Africa.
“In my meeting with a special envoy dispatched by President Cyril Ramaphosa to meet with me in Accra earlier in the week, I made Ghana’s position clear to the envoy,” Mahama said. He stressed that Ghana harbours no hostility toward South Africa but remains deeply concerned about the recurring attacks and the financial losses suffered by African investors.
Lamola confirmed the meeting in a separate statement.
“Yesterday, I met with His Excellency President Mahama of Ghana as a Special Envoy on behalf of President Ramaphosa in Accra. We engaged in an open dialogue on key issues impacting both our nations.”
He reiterated that South Africa “categorically rejects xenophobia, racism, homophobia, and violence in all forms” and remains committed to the rule of law. He also reaffirmed support for “safe, regular and orderly migration” across Africa while calling for greater cooperation to address the root causes of irregular migration.
Part of a Wider Strategy
The Accra visit is part of a broader diplomatic initiative announced by Ramaphosa during a recent national address on immigration. The president outlined a five-point plan aimed at restoring public order while addressing illegal migration through legal and institutional reforms.
The strategy includes strengthening border security, accelerating immigration reforms, intensifying action against criminal syndicates involved in undocumented migration, expanding cooperation with neighbouring countries and deploying special envoys across Africa to explain South Africa’s approach and preserve bilateral ties.
Dirco Director-General Zane Dangor said Lamola assured Mahama that South Africa highly values its relationship with Ghana and regrets the anti-immigrant sentiment that has surfaced in parts of the country. He added that the government had unequivocally condemned incidents in which private citizens demanded foreigners produce proof of their immigration status.
Dangor also suggested that external forces could be exploiting legitimate public frustrations.
“Patterns are emerging that suggest there may be a manipulation of real grievances,” he said.
The diplomatic outreach follows weeks of strained relations after Ghana postponed planned bilateral meetings with South Africa, one of the strongest responses by an African government to recurring anti-foreigner violence in the country. Ghana had earlier delayed Ramaphosa’s planned visit following the death of a Ghanaian national, although South African authorities said the killing was unrelated to the anti-immigrant protests.
Ghana Seeks AU Action
Beyond the bilateral talks, Mahama announced that Ghana has formally requested the African Union place xenophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of its next summit. He said African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf agreed the issue deserves discussion at the continental level.
“Sweeping this matter under the carpet will not resolve its root causes,” Mahama said. “That is why Ghana officially wrote to the AU Commission requesting that this issue be placed on the agenda for the next summit.”
He said the request was not intended to isolate South Africa but to provide “a formal, constructive platform to share its perspective, and together, as a continent, work toward a lasting solution.”
In remarks broadcast by Ghanaian media, Mahama also questioned whether South African authorities had responded forcefully enough.
“It doesn’t appear that the South African authorities are responding to the magnitude that one would expect them to,” he said, adding that “the persons who are funding these xenophobic attacks are known and they have been left free to continue to do what they want to do.”
Youssouf echoed those concerns, describing the violence as “a big source of concern” for the AU Commission. He noted that although Lamola had previously assured the Commission that undocumented migrants would be handled through lawful processes, “we see that these people who are harassing our African fellow citizens are free to do what they want.”
A Regional Test
The dispute has evolved beyond a domestic security issue into a broader test of African diplomacy. As countries deepen economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area, the safety of migrants, entrepreneurs and investors has become increasingly important to building confidence in cross-border commerce.
South Africa remains one of the continent’s leading destinations for African migrants and businesses, giving the violence regional significance. Analysts have also warned that the diplomatic fallout could weaken support for South Africa’s candidate in an upcoming African Telecommunications Union leadership election if relations with influential countries such as Ghana and Nigeria continue to deteriorate.
By sending a presidential envoy instead of relying solely on public statements, Pretoria is signalling a willingness to engage directly with Ghana’s concerns while maintaining that the violence does not reflect official government policy.
Whether that effort succeeds may depend on the next African Union summit, where Ghana hopes the issue will finally receive formal consideration from African leaders.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah