Xenophobic attacks: Ghana must pursue justice for victims beyond evacuation - Bosome Freho MP

Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, called for stronger diplomatic action against South Africa over the recent xenophobic attacks, insisting that justice must be pursued for affected Ghanaians. Speaking on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen following the arrival of 300 evacuated Ghanaians from South Africa on Wednesday, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh said African leaders and the African Union must take decisive steps to address the recurring violence. He warned, "I won't be surprised if we wake up one day and they apprehend all foreign nationals, put them in a room and set ablaze."

Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh argued that African countries, including Ghana, played a major role in supporting South Africa during the apartheid struggle and therefore deserve better treatment. He accused some local politicians in South Africa of exploiting anti-foreigner sentiments for political gain, stating, "The individual politicians involved are making political campaign promises with it to embolden their base, so they are not able to deal with it as they should." He also expressed concern over videos showing alleged attacks taking place in the presence of police officers without intervention, adding, "You sometimes see videos with police present but doing nothing about the attacks. So it tells you clearly that the South African government itself cannot deal with the issue."

Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh urged the African Union to consider continental resolutions and possible legal action to seek justice for victims of the attacks. He noted, "If we are able to document our evidence well and put all the facts together, we can pursue this case at the international court." He stressed that victims who lost livelihoods and property deserve more than repatriation support, saying, "Any Ghanaian who suffered any loss and now has to start from ground zero reparation package alone is not enough for such a person. You must let him have justice beyond bringing me back home."