South Africa has warned Ghana over how the ongoing evacuation of Ghanaian nationals is being presented, noting that it will not tolerate what it described as “public spectacles” characterised by misinformation and a lack of diplomatic decorum.
The warning from South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, is in reaction to comments made by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and a video shared by Ghana’s embassy showing evacuees waving Ghanaian flags aboard an aircraft before departure.
“Our initial hope was simply to assist the Government of Ghana in repatriating its citizens in a humane and cordial manner,” Lamola wrote on X. “However, we will not continue to tolerate… public spectacles, characterised by incomplete information and outright misinformation devoid of any diplomatic decorum.”
Reacting to the claim that some Ghanaians have been hospitalised after attacks, the minister said the South African government was not aware, describing the claim as ‘deeply strange’.
“It is therefore deeply strange that we are hearing for the first time, through this interview, that 15 Ghanaians are currently hospitalised. We have no information of that nature whatsoever. In fact, to date, the High Commissioner has not shared any information with us, not even regarding the single individual he previously discussed in media interviews.”
The evacuation of Ghanaian nationals follows a recent wave of anti-immigrant protests and violence in South Africa that has heightened fears among foreign communities. Ghana began organising repatriation flights last month to assist citizens who wished to return home. Several flights have already been completed, with additional evacuations expected.
South Africa remains one of Africa’s leading destinations for migrant workers, drawn by its relatively advanced economy.
However, persistent economic challenges, including an unemployment rate exceeding 30 percent, have contributed to recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence over the years. Public outrage intensified further after a video allegedly showing the assault of a Ghanaian man circulated widely on social media, adding urgency to the evacuation effort.
A deeply disappointing interview, replete with misinformation.
— Minister: International Relations and Cooperation (@RonaldLamola) June 6, 2026
First, the claim that two Nigerians have been killed during the current wave of attacks remains entirely unsubstantiated by available information.
No Nigerian National
has been killed during the current waves of… https://t.co/mlkbMiJiAd pic.twitter.com/RxjJWB0OmL
