Formal protest and stern warning against continued xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians and other African nationals in South Africa

Your Excellency,

I write from the Office of Blessed Godsbrain Smart with deep concern, righteous anger, and uncompromising conviction over the continuing reports of xenophobic hostility, intimidation, attacks, humiliation, business destruction, and targeted mistreatment of Ghanaian nationals and other African citizens living in the Republic of South Africa.

Let it be placed on record that this communication is not written in the spirit of hostility toward the people of South Africa. It is written in defence of African dignity, human life, Ghanaian citizens, Pan-African solidarity, and the sacred principle that no African should be hunted, assaulted, displaced, or humiliated on African soil simply because he or she comes from another African country. South Africa cannot continue to enjoy the respect, trade, goodwill, markets, diplomatic friendship, cultural admiration, and economic presence it receives across the African continent while some of its citizens and institutions appear unable or unwilling to guarantee the safety of fellow Africans within its borders.

This contradiction is morally offensive, diplomatically disturbing, politically dangerous, and continentally unacceptable

Ghana and many African nations stood with South Africa during its darkest historical period. Africa raised its voice against apartheid. Africa carried the South African liberation struggle in its heart. Africa gave moral, diplomatic, political, and emotional support to a people who were oppressed and dehumanized. It is therefore painfully shameful that, in post-apartheid South Africa, Africans from Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Congo, and other sister nations should now become victims of hatred, suspicion, violence, and public hostility.

This is not the South Africa AFRICA fought for.

Your Excellency, the repeated attacks against African nationals cannot continue to be treated as isolated criminal episodes. When violence follows a pattern, when foreign Africans are repeatedly targeted, when businesses are looted, when human beings are threatened, when communities live in fear, and when the state response appears insufficient, then the matter moves beyond ordinary criminality. It becomes a grave diplomatic, moral, legal, and continental question.

We therefore demand that the Government of the Republic of South Africa treats this issue with the seriousness it deserves.

The safety of Ghanaians in South Africa is not optional. It is a duty under international law, African solidarity, diplomatic reciprocity, and basic human decency. Every Ghanaian citizen abroad carries the dignity of the Republic of Ghana. Any attack on Ghanaian nationals, their businesses, their families, or their legitimate presence must be understood as an attack on the dignity of Ghana itself.

Let it be clearly understood: Ghanaian lives matter. African lives matter. The dignity of our people is not negotiable.

We are therefore calling on the South African Government, through your respected office, to take immediate and visible action to protect Ghanaian nationals and all other African citizens within South Africa. This must include the protection of lives, businesses, homes, places of work, student communities, traders, families, and vulnerable migrants who are lawfully resident or peacefully living within South African territory.

We further call for the immediate arrest, prosecution, and public accountability of all persons involved in xenophobic violence. Impunity must end.

No society can claim moral leadership while allowing mobs, extremists, criminal elements, or irresponsible political voices to endanger innocent Africans.

The South African Government must also stop every form of political language, public commentary, or state-level silence that emboldens xenophobic sentiment. Leaders must not scapegoat foreigners for domestic economic failures. Unemployment, inequality, crime, poverty, and social frustration cannot be solved by attacking other Africans. Such conduct only exposes state failure and destroys continental unity.

Your Excellency, this letter must also serve as a clear warning: if these attacks continue, South African economic interests across Africa, including in Ghana, will inevitably face serious reputational, commercial, diplomatic, and consumer consequences.

This is not a call for lawlessness. It is not a call for violence. It is not a call for attacks on any innocent South African citizen or business. But it is a firm warning that public anger, consumer resistance, civil society mobilisation, and lawful economic rejection of South African corporate interests may become unavoidable if South Africa fails to protect Africans on its soil.

South African companies cannot expect to enjoy African markets while African citizens are made unsafe in South African communities.

South African brands cannot continue to profit from the same continent whose people are being insulted, attacked, displaced, or treated as unwanted human beings.

South African corporations operating in Ghana and across Africa must understand that their longterm legitimacy is tied to the conduct of the South African state and society toward fellow Africans.

A country cannot export business confidence while importing continental shame. If xenophobic violence is not stopped decisively, many Africans will begin to ask hard questions:

· Why should African consumers continue to patronise South African brands?

· Why should African governments continue to provide market access to South ;African companies?

· Why should South African corporations enjoy comfort in African economies when Africans are uncomfortable in South Africa?

· Why should the continent remain silent when its citizens are repeatedly attacked?

These questions will not remain theoretical forever. They may become policy demands, consumer movements, civil society campaigns, parliamentary debates, diplomatic actions, and continental economic pressure.

We therefore urge the South African Government to act now before this matter escalates into a wider crisis of trust between South Africa and the rest of the continent. Specifically, we demand the following:

. A clear and unequivocal public condemnation of xenophobic violence by the South African

Government.

. Immediate security protection for Ghanaian nationals and other African citizens in

vulnerable communities.

. Arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of xenophobic attacks, looting, threats, intimidation,

and destruction of African-owned businesses.

. A formal investigation into attacks involving Ghanaian citizens and other African nationals.

. Regular diplomatic updates to affected African embassies, including Ghana’s mission in

South Africa.

. Compensation and legal support for victims whose businesses, properties, livelihoods, or

physical safety have been affected.

. A national anti-xenophobia education campaign rooted in ubuntu, African unity, and

respect for human dignity.

. Stronger police response systems and emergency reporting mechanisms for foreign African

nationals.

. Public accountability for any political figure, public official, or community leader whose

rhetoric encourages hostility against foreigners.

. A long-term South Africa–Africa reconciliation and protection framework to rebuild

continental confidence.

Your Excellency, South Africa must make a choice. It can choose the legacy of Mandela, Ubuntu, African unity, justice, and continental leadership. Or it can allow xenophobia to drag its image into moral disgrace, diplomatic isolation, and economic distrust.

The patience of Africa must not be abused.

The silence of Ghana must not be mistaken for weakness. The restraint of African citizens must not be interpreted as fear.

We believe in diplomacy. We believe in peace. We believe in lawful engagement. But we also believe that diplomacy without consequence becomes empty speech. If this disturbing pattern continues, South Africa must be prepared to face firm, lawful, diplomatic, economic, reputational, and continental consequences. OUR YOUTH MAY ALSO RISE.

Let this letter therefore be received with the seriousness it deserves.

We are calling for action, not excuses.

We are calling for protection, not sympathy.

We are calling for justice, not promises.

We are calling for African dignity, not diplomatic grammar.

The lives of Ghanaians and other Africans in South Africa must be protected. Their businesses must be protected. Their families must be protected. Their dignity must be protected. Africa cannot continue to preach unity while Africans are being attacked by Africans. South Africa must act, and it must act now

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration, even as I register this message with the strongest possible concern.