Catholic Bishops urge Ghanaians to avoid emotional reaction to South Africa tensions

Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, has called for calm amid rising xenophobic tensions in South Africa and growing calls by some Ghanaians to boycott or shut down South African businesses in Ghana. Speaking to Citi News on Thursday, May 28, Most Rev. Gyamfi urged Ghanaians and Africans generally not to respond emotionally by targeting South Africans or their businesses. He stated, "I believe that Ghanaians who have been repatriated, and indeed all Africans, should see this as a misunderstanding by some people in South Africa and should not react by repatriating South Africans back."

Most Rev. Gyamfi warned that retaliatory actions could escalate tensions across the continent and undermine African unity and peaceful coexistence. He cautioned that such actions could trigger a chain reaction across the continent. He also stressed the need for peaceful coexistence among African countries, noting that citizens across the continent continue to live and do business in one another's nations. He acknowledged that misunderstandings and isolated incidents may occur but cautioned against allowing them to define relations between African nations.

Most Rev. Gyamfi described it as unfortunate that Africans continue to divide themselves along colonial boundaries, instead of strengthening unity on the continent. He lamented, "It is very sad that Africans continue to build on the divisions created by Europeans instead of breaking away from them. We keep emphasising artificial boundaries and differences."