Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has shared his personal experience with insecurity in South Africa, revealing that he nearly lost his life during his six-year stay in the country.
According to him, his time in South Africa exposed him firsthand to some of the security challenges faced by Ghanaians and other foreign nationals living in the country.
Speaking to Fred Duhoe, journalist and the Communication Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Apostle Nyamekye said he was confronted by armed robbers on two occasions, with the second incident putting his life in serious danger.
“I lived in South Africa for about six years, and I suffered a lot from some of these things. I almost died in South Africa. Two times, I was accosted by armed robbers. The last one was too dangerous. When I was leaving South Africa, my luggage was stolen,” he said.
He also recounted another incident that compelled him to return to South Africa after a national deacon of The Church of Pentecost was kidnapped during a church service.
“And then recently, I had to rush to South Africa, about a year plus ago, when our national deacon was kidnapped in the midst of an offering, and I had to rush to South Africa.
“I was the right person to go, not because I was a chairman, but because they knew that I have also suffered from some of these things, so I needed to go in there and speak,” he added.
Apostle Nyamekye said his personal experiences have given him a deeper understanding of the security challenges and difficulties some Ghanaians face while living and working in South Africa.
His comments come amid renewed concerns about the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly following recent xenophobic incidents and other security concerns involving Ghanaians.
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