Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, has assured that no Ghanaian remains in police custody following anti-immigration protests that swept through parts of South Africa on Tuesday, June 30.
Speaking on Citi FM, Mr. Quashie said the Ghana High Commission had been monitoring the situation since the early hours of the day and worked with South African authorities to secure the release of all Ghanaians who were temporarily detained.
“We’ve been monitoring the situation since 6 a.m. this morning. A couple of Ghanaians were arrested and all of them, I can confidently tell you, have been released through the intervention of our consular officers,” he said.
According to the High Commissioner, some Ghanaians were stopped during routine immigration checks and asked to produce identification documents. Once they identified themselves as Ghanaian nationals, South African authorities contacted the High Commission to verify their nationality before releasing them.
Mr. Quashie explained that the mission has an existing arrangement with South African law enforcement agencies requiring officials to consult the High Commission whenever a Ghanaian national is detained.
“The agreement is that if any Ghanaian is arrested, the authorities should first confirm with us. We verify whether the individual is indeed Ghanaian and advise accordingly,” he stated.
His comments come amid anti-immigration demonstrations in several South African cities, including Pretoria, where protesters marched through the city demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
The protests have heightened anxiety among migrant communities, with many foreign nationals opting to remain indoors or temporarily relocate over fears for their safety.
Despite the tensions, Mr. Quashie said the High Commission has not received reports of widespread attacks targeting Ghanaians.
He disclosed that only one Ghanaian was involved in an incident after disregarding the mission’s advice to remain indoors during the demonstrations.
“The only case we recorded involved a Ghanaian who admitted that he left his accommodation to visit his shop despite our advice. Unfortunately, protesters confronted him,” he said.
Apart from that isolated incident, the High Commissioner said no Ghanaian had been injured and no Ghanaian-owned property had been destroyed during the protests.
He urged Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement and adhere to safety directives issued by the High Commission and local authorities while the security situation continues to be monitored.
Mr. Quashie also revealed that the High Commission is preparing to undertake another voluntary repatriation exercise next week for Ghanaians who wish to return home in light of the growing anti-immigration tensions.
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