Ghana’s High Commissioner and other diplomats skip South Africa’s Africa Day celebration over xenophobic attacks

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, May 28, Mr Quashie said the boycott was meant to send a strong message to South African authorities over the growing hostility toward migrants living in the country. According to him, no African ambassador attended any official Africa Day event held in South Africa this year. “For the first time in our history, the deans and the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps made sure none of us attended any event linked to the Africa Day celebrations in South Africa,” he said. “Not a single African ambassador showed up, and that alone should tell them clearly that we are unhappy with what is happening.” His comments come at a time when concerns are rising over renewed xenophobic tensions in South Africa, which recently forced several Ghanaians living in affected communities to seek help to return home. The first group of evacuees arrived in Accra on Wednesday, May 27, under a government-led evacuation exercise coordinated by Ghana’s diplomatic mission in South Africa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The evacuation followed reports of intimidation, harassment and attacks against foreign nationals in some parts of South Africa, leaving many migrants fearing for their safety. The situation has once again raised concerns about recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa, where migrants from other African countries have repeatedly come under attack during periods of economic and social tension.