Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described the recent xenophobic attacks on fellow Africans in South Africa as a betrayal of Africans.
He condemned the attacks, particularly that of Emmanuel Asamoah, a Ghanaian national, in a video that has gone viral on various social media platforms this week.
“What a betrayal it is to see us being described as undesirable in videos that have gone viral.
“Citizens who have not incited any disturbance, who are not spreading trouble, who are not instigators, who are performing their legitimate duties, are subjected to such naked hatred, such baseless xenophobia,” he said.
The Minister was speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with his Sierra Leonean counterpart at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) last Thursday.
Ghana's role
Mr. Ablakwa recalled the contributions of African countries, particularly Ghana, to South Africa's struggle to end apartheid and achieve independence, and stressed that recent developments were most disappointing.
“As Africans, we all know what role we have played in helping South Africa defeat the apartheid regime.
It is here, on these hallowed grounds (referring to the MFA), that we find ourselves on campus.
It used to be a hostel for international students.
“We hosted many freedom fighters from South Africa and many parts of Africa.
Ghanaian taxpayers took care of the scholarships awarded to them and the food provided to them.
He said, “We issued them Ghanaian passports when they were declared stateless and when they could not travel freely. We issued them Ghanaian passports right here in these compounds. We gave financial support to the ANC.”
Mr Ablakwa also referenced President Nelson Madiba Mandela's memoir, “The Long Walk to Freedom, pages 236-237”, which acknowledged Ghana's role in their independence struggle, including the loss of Ghanaian lives in “the Battle of Kuito Kuanawale, which took place between August 1987 and March 1988, the last straw that broke the camel's back”. Was.
Condemnation
The Minister called on all Africans and their leaders to condemn the actions of certain elements in South African society who are trying to undermine relationships that have endured for many decades.
“As African leaders we must all condemn this.
“We must remind those marginal elements who are overwhelming minorities that they cannot divide us, that we remain united in our common struggles, in our common destiny, and that our solidarity is steadfast, unbreakable, and we will continue to live together as Africans,” he said.
He said that although the actions of these elements were regrettable, Africans must continue to believe in Pan-Africanism and a united Africa as the only means of realizing Africa's full potential.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that the Government will do everything it can to protect its citizens and ensure that it demands the South African Government to protect its citizens and keep them safe, as they owe a duty of care; Just as the Government of Ghana will continue to ensure that
South Africans living in the country are also safe, protected and they will not encourage any retaliatory attacks.
solidarity and law
Meanwhile, at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Frances Piaggi Alghali also condemned xenophobic attacks on West Africans.
He urged the South African government to address the development within the framework of humanitarian law and African solidarity.