Ghanaian doctor's 1994 donation to Nelson Mandela resurfaces amid xenophobic attacks in South Africa
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Kofi Anku, a Ghanaian real estate developer, shared a personal cheque from his late father, Dr. Vincent Anku, for $10,000 made out to Nelson Mandela in 1994. This act of solidarity, made in the year of South Africa's first democratic elections, has been highlighted by Anku on Facebook amidst renewed xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians and other Africans in South Africa. Anku emphasized his father's belief in standing against apartheid and for the dignity of Black people, contrasting it with the current intimidation faced by Ghanaian migrants in the country. He noted that many across the continent supported South Africa's liberation and that the current generation must consider what they are willing to do for each other. The post comes as Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has summoned South Africa's envoy to Ghana, calling for intervention after a Ghanaian legal resident was violently harassed. Anti-migrant groups have targeted foreign nationals, accusing them of draining public services, leading to ransacking of shops, homes, and even hospitals. Minister Ablakwa has appealed to the spirit of Pan-Africanism, urging that the long-standing bonds between African nations should not be derailed by fringe elements. Anku's post serves as a reminder of the costly solidarity of an earlier generation of Africans.
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