South Africans protest foreign business closures, demand their return
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Some South Africans have demonstrated, calling for the reopening of foreign-owned businesses that closed following attacks on foreign nationals. A viral video shows protesters expressing concern over job losses, stating that many factories and workshops are foreign-owned and their closure leaves local workers unemployed. One protester highlighted that South Africans often lack specific industry experience, such as in garment manufacturing, and demand high salaries, making it difficult for businesses to rely solely on local labor. The protests coincide with Ghana's ongoing evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, with over 700 Ghanaians having returned. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, assured returnees that the government would seek compensation for lost businesses and properties and announced that approximately 200 jobs had been secured for them through Ghanaian entrepreneurs and corporate institutions, including pledges from businessman Ibrahim Mahama, AirtelTigo, and Telecel Ghana.
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Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu argues that Ghana should prioritize the recovery of misappropriated state funds over jailing individuals involved in corruption. Speaking on June 13, 2026, Kpebu stated that recovered public resources could be used for critical sectors like healthcare and infrastructure, citing the need for beds in hospitals and the unopened Afariwa Hospital. He believes that recovering funds, possibly with interest, would save more lives than imprisonment. While acknowledging concerns about weakening deterrence, Kpebu maintained that public stigma and reputational damage serve as significant punishment, affecting offenders and their families. He emphasized that societal attitudes towards criminal allegations have lasting consequences. Kpebu asserted that recovering funds without prison sentences provides sufficient deterrence, citing past high-profile cases where lost funds were partially recovered. He noted that plea bargaining is a recognized legal mechanism in Ghana and other jurisdictions, suggesting that "half a loaf is always better than none" given the Ghanaian system's weaknesses. He urged policymakers and prosecutors to focus on maximizing fund recovery while holding offenders publicly accountable.
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has reportedly resigned from the Council of State, the country's highest presidential advisory body. According to a report, her resignation was submitted in 2025, and she has not attended any Council meetings since. Neither Akuffo nor the Presidency has officially commented on the matter, and the reasons for her departure are unknown. This reported resignation follows public scrutiny related to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. In April 2025, Akuffo was the only Council member to abstain from a vote on whether a prima facie case had been established against Torkornoo. Akuffo later testified in Torkornoo's defense before the Article 146 committee and publicly criticized the proceedings, stating Torkornoo had not received a fair hearing. Akuffo served on the Supreme Court for over two decades before becoming Ghana's 13th Chief Justice in 2017. Her tenure on the Council of State also drew attention in 2023 when she joined pensioners protesting the government's Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
Private legal practitioner and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has criticized the public's outrage regarding Canada's decision to deny Ghanaian footballer Thomas Partey a temporary residence visa for a tournament. This denial occurred amid Partey's ongoing criminal case in the UK. In a social media post on June 14, 2026, Barker-Vormawor highlighted that Partey is facing seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, yet is on bail and could still attend a World Cup. He pointed out what he perceives as contradictions in public expectations and the legal framework, criticizing Ghana鈥檚 criminal justice system. Barker-Vormawor argued that public attitudes often reinforce overly restrictive approaches to bail and pre-trial liberty in Ghana, where suspects granted bail may face strict reporting conditions for years before a trial begins. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the UK, which stem from allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. The Ghanaian government has urged Canada to review its decision. Ghana is scheduled to play Panama in their World Cup opener on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.