Ghana don summon South Africa top diplomat for Ghana, wey be acting high commissioner Thando Dalamba, over reported xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians and other African migrants for South Africa.
Di matter start when video clips show for online, where vigilante groups dey attack and confront people wey dem believe dey South Africa illegally. For one video, dem challenge Ghanaian man about im status.
Xenophobia na long time issue for South Africa, and sometimes e dey turn to deadly violence. Ghanaian officials don meet di man wey appear for di video to offer am support, and also urge citizens wey dey abroad to continue to dey law-abiding.
Ghana foreign affairs ministry say dem also meet South Africa acting high commissioner and raise formal protest over recent xenophobic incidents against foreigners, including Ghana citizens. Di ministry cite di video wey show group of South Africans questioning Ghanaian man. Di group demand to see di man documents, and even when e produce dem, dem question di authenticity, before tell am to go and fix your country.
According to Ghana foreign affairs ministry, di man dey South Africa legally. Such conduct dey undermine di dignity and rights of law-abiding citizens, di ministry statement tok for Thursday.
Ghana High Commission for South Africa share video of top envoy Benjamin Quashie meeting di man. Di situation dey dire, we understand, but make we continue to dey law-abiding and respect di rules, Quashie tok.
Ghana Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa don also speak to im South African counterpart Ronald Lamola, wey promise full investigation and express empathy for di victims.
South Africa acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia also condemn di acts, say no individual or group get authority to take law into dem own hands, irrespective of grievances or frustrations.
Many more migrants dey South Africa unofficially. Most come from neighbouring countries like Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, wey get history of providing migrant labour to di wealthy neighbour. Smaller number come from Nigeria.
Vigilante groups like Operation Dudula, wey mean to force out for Zulu language, and March on March claim South Africa dey overrun with migrants and blame dem for many of di country social problems, especially unemployment and drug abuse. Dem hold demonstrations for major cities wey sometimes turn violent and result for attacks on foreign-owned shops.
Earlier dis week, March on March lead protest for di port city of Durban, and for one clip shared online, few participants dey viciously attack man wey dem believe na illegal foreigner.
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