A diplomatic dispute has emerged between Ghana and South Africa over the death of a Ghanaian national, with the two governments offering conflicting accounts of how and when the man was killed.
The disagreement follows anti-immigration demonstrations held across South Africa on June 30, during which thousands of protesters demanded the removal of undocumented migrants from the country.
Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the government had received reports that a Ghanaian citizen had been killed during the demonstrations.
In a statement, the ministry said the victim, identified as 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, was allegedly shot dead in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, during violence linked to the nationwide protests.
South Africa response
South Africa, however, has rejected the claim that the death was connected to the anti-migrant demonstrations.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said the victim was, in fact, a 35-year-old Ghanaian identified as Kwabena Boagen, who was shot dead at a barber shop in Nyanga on June 29 — a day before the protests began.
Kubayi said police believe the killing was linked to extortion and had no connection to the anti-immigration demonstrations. She urged Ghana to use established diplomatic channels when raising concerns and cautioned against the spread of misinformation.
The conflicting accounts have added to tensions between the two countries, coming just weeks after outrage erupted in Ghana over a widely circulated video showing a Ghanaian man being assaulted in South Africa. The incident prompted formal protests from authorities in Accra.
Ghana petitions
Ghana's High Commission in Pretoria says it has formally protested to South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and lodged a complaint with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The West African nation says it also petitioned the African Union Commission over “xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa", adding that it expects the continental body to prioritise the issue at its next statutory meeting.
Tuesday's demonstrations in South Africa saw thousands march through major South African cities and townships, demanding stronger government action against illegal immigration.
While authorities described the protests as largely peaceful, police reported incidents of looting targeting local spaza shops and harassment of foreign nationals who remained in the country despite an unofficial June 30 deadline set by protest organisers.
Nearly 900 people were arrested during the demonstrations for alleged looting and immigration-related offences, authorities said.
