Ghanaian MP condemns xenophobic attacks in South Africa, calls for Pan-African unity
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, the Majority Chief Whip and MP for South Dayi, has strongly condemned recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, describing them as an assault on Pan-Africanism. Speaking in Parliament, Dafeamekpor stated that Ghana cannot remain silent while Africans face hostility and violence. He characterized the situation in parts of South Africa as "hostility disguised as patriotism" and "the dangerous normalization of organized violence against African migrants." The MP cited reports of mobs in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal demanding identity documents, harassing traders, and forcibly closing migrant-owned shops, including an incident involving a Ghanaian resident. Dafeamekpor emphasized that no private citizen or mob has the legal authority to act as an immigration officer or decide who belongs in Africa. He urged Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to engage South African authorities diplomatically to ensure the safety of Ghanaians and other nationals, and called on South Africa to uphold the rule of law. He concluded by stating that Parliament must defend the ideals of the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament, advocating for a united continental response to end street vigilantism, asserting that xenophobia violates the principles of African unity.
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