South Africa disputes claims of 15 Ghanaians critically injured in xenophobic unrest
via GhanaWeb3 min read
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has refuted claims made by Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, regarding Ghanaians injured in recent xenophobic unrest. Ablakwa stated in a June 6, 2026 interview that at least 15 Ghanaians sustained severe injuries, with one female victim remaining in critical condition, and that there was a willingness to compensate for harm caused. Lamola, reacting on X on the same date, said his ministry had not received official information confirming such figures and described Ablakwa's interview as "deeply disappointing" and "replete with misinformation." He noted that Ghana’s High Commissioner in South Africa had not formally communicated any such cases to his office. Lamola also challenged claims that two Nigerians and five Mozambicans were killed in the attacks, stating that no Nigerian national has been confirmed dead and that while two Mozambican nationals' deaths are under investigation, the claim of five is untrue. He emphasized the importance of accurate reporting and verified information.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to urgently operationalize several completed health facilities in the Ashanti Region to reduce pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital KATH. Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, Ranking Member on Parliament's Health Committee, stated that congestion and bed shortages at KATH are due to delays in bringing key hospitals into full operation. The Minority highlighted the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua, the Afari Military Hospital, the Trede District Hospital, and the Kokoben-Oforikrom District Hospital as facilities intended to ease KATH's burden. They noted that the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital was operationalized and the 250-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua was substantially completed under the previous administration. The caucus expressed difficulty understanding why the government would suspend a hospital CEO rather than accelerate the full operationalization of these facilities. They also pointed out that the 100-bed Trede and Kokoben-Oforikrom district hospitals, commissioned in 2024, remain largely non-operational. The Minority argued that these delays have worsened pressure on KATH and contributed to the "No Bed Syndrome," urging the government to immediately operationalize all completed hospitals and address systemic challenges identified by healthcare professionals.
Must ReadA second group of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at Accra International Airport. This evacuation follows escalating xenophobic tensions in South Africa. A video shared online shows one evacuee being assisted onto a stretcher and into an ambulance upon arrival in Accra, where officials and health personnel received the returnees. This group is part of the government's ongoing evacuation efforts for Ghanaians affected by renewed anti-immigrant attacks and insecurity in parts of South Africa. The government had previously approved the evacuation of hundreds of Ghanaians who registered with the country's High Commission in Pretoria after reports of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals.
A security guard, Joseph Obedekeme, recounted the moment a building near Melcom Plus in the Industrial Area collapsed, trapping two individuals. Obedekeme, who has worked at the location for over a year, stated that he narrowly escaped the collapse, which occurred around 4:25 am. He reported hearing a loud noise from a nearby shop, followed by the collapse of the entire building. According to Obedekeme, a woman sleeping inside the building was trapped, and two people were inside at the time of the incident. One person managed to escape by jumping out and was taken to the hospital. The Ghana National Fire Service has since rescued two people from the rubble, with one reported to be in critical condition.