Ghana postpones South African President Ramaphosa’s visit amid fears of anti-migrant protests

Ghana has postponed a planned visit by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa after officials concluded the current public climate in Ghana risked triggering large anti-migrant protests, the government said July 7. Ghana’s position followed weeks of rising migration tensions linked to demonstrations in South Africa targeting foreigners, including xenophobic rallies that have led to the repatriation of hundreds of Ghanaians from South Africa, according to reporting.

The delay centers on a planned state visit by Ramaphosa in the first week of August. Ghana had hoped the trip would help de-escalate tensions between the two neighboring countries. But officials said many in Ghana feared his presence would draw crowds and provoke unrest, prompting the government to defer the visit for now.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, a government spokesman, told the BBC that Ghana had sent a communication indicating “it would be best to defer the visit in view of the present climate around xenophobia.” He described the decision as responsive to conditions on the ground rather than a change in diplomatic objectives.

South Africa’s government sought to downplay the setback, with Vincent Magwenya, the president’s spokesman, telling the BBC that South Africa remained committed to “deepening cooperation” between the “two sister nations” and advancing a shared “African Agenda.” Magwenya said the two countries would keep engaging through diplomatic channels to identify a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The Ghana-South Africa dispute has been shaped by events in South Africa that have spilled into wider regional anger. Reporting describes a viral video involving a Ghanaian man in South Africa being confronted and told to “go fix his country,” which became part of a broader argument in Ghana about how foreigners are being treated. In response, Ghana began repatriation operations after South Africa-based protests and tensions.

According to the reporting, Ghana has repatriated more than 900 of its citizens from South Africa, with additional returns expected in the coming weeks. Other African countries have also carried out repatriations linked to protests against foreigners in South Africa, underscoring how domestic demonstrations can quickly become cross-border political and humanitarian issues.

International coverage of the South Africa unrest has also included disputes over the interpretation of online footage and allegations of violence, with fact-checking organizations warning that some videos have been misrepresented as attacks on foreigners. Against that backdrop, Ghana’s move to postpone a high-profile diplomatic visit appears designed to reduce the immediate likelihood of public disorder tied to the topic of migration and xenophobia.

Ghana and South Africa said they will continue working through diplomatic channels, leaving the timing of Ramaphosa’s visit undecided. For Ghana, the practical effect is that a near-term opportunity to manage bilateral tensions through direct engagement has been deferred, while officials prioritize stability as migration-related concerns remain emotionally charged in both countries.