Eighteen Ghanaians rescued from xenophobic attacks

At least 18 Ghanaians have been rescued in South Africa as the xenophobic attacks on immigrants worsen.

Officials at the Ghana High Commission said it was in touch with the Ghanaian community and had provided hotlines to assist those who had become victims of a march against immigrants that had turned violent.

Last Friday, February 24, 2017, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told Parliament, that all Ghanaians and their businesses in South Africa were safe, despite the ongoing xenophobic attacks in that country.

"We are monitoring the situation; we are watching carefully what is happening and we will ensure that if there are any threats on any Ghanaian, the mission will quickly move in and ensure the safety of our nationals," she had stated.

She said Ghana had also called on the South African Ministry of Internal Affairs to assure Ghana that Ghanaians would be safe.

She said no Ghanaian national or their businesses have been affected in the recent xenophobia attacks.

According to her, Ghana’s mission in South Africa had urged Ghanaians in Mamelodi, also in South Africa, to remain indoors due to a planned demonstration against foreigners.

Background

Scores of Ghanaians living in South Africa have expressed strong desire to return home following brutal xenophobic attacks on some African Nationals in that country.

A Ghanaian in South Africa, Donald told Accra-based Starr FM that they are living in fear and that their movements had been limited.

"We are indoors more because of the xenophobic attacks."

He said all attempts to reach the Ghanaian High Commission for assistance had been unsuccessful.

Reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa have heightened over the last few days. Nigerians and other African nationals have complained of rising violence against them.

The main group behind the protests, Mamelodi Concerned Residents, has blamed foreign nationals for taking jobs and accused them of being involved in prostitution rings and drug cartels, accusations denied by immigrant communities.

South Africa experienced its worst outbreak of violence against foreigners in 2008, when more than 60 people died.

Two years ago, similar xenophobic unrest in the cities of Johannesburg and Durban claimed lives as African immigrants were hunted down and attacked by gangs.