Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, has assured Ghanaians that no citizen remains in police custody following anti-immigration protests that swept through parts of South Africa on Tuesday, June 30.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr Quashie said the Ghana High Commission had been monitoring the security situation since the early hours of the day and successfully secured the release of all Ghanaians who were temporarily detained.
“We’ve been monitoring the situation since 6 a.m. this morning. A couple of Ghanaians were arrested and all of them, I can confidently tell you, have been released through the intervention of our consular officers,” he said.
According to the High Commissioner, those detained were stopped during routine immigration checks and asked to produce identification documents. After identifying themselves as Ghanaians, South African authorities contacted the High Commission to verify their nationality before releasing them.
Mr Quashie explained that the Ghana High Commission has an existing arrangement with South African law enforcement agencies requiring officials to consult the mission whenever a Ghanaian national is arrested.
“The agreement is that if any Ghanaian is arrested, the authorities should first confirm with us. We verify whether the individual is indeed Ghanaian and advise accordingly,” he stated.
The reassurance comes as anti-immigration demonstrations intensified in several South African cities, including Pretoria, where protesters called for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
The protests have raised concerns among migrant communities, prompting many foreign nationals to limit their movements over fears for their safety.
Despite the tensions, Mr Quashie said the High Commission had not received reports of widespread attacks targeting Ghanaians.
He disclosed that only one Ghanaian was confronted by protesters after disregarding the mission’s advice to remain indoors and visiting his shop.
“The only case we recorded involved a Ghanaian who admitted that he left his accommodation to visit his shop despite our advice. Unfortunately, protesters confronted him,” he said.
He added that no Ghanaian had been injured, no Ghanaian-owned property had been destroyed, and no citizen had been caught in the crossfire of the demonstrations.
Mr Quashie urged Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and comply with safety advisories as the High Commission continues to monitor developments.
He also announced that the mission would organise another voluntary repatriation exercise next week for Ghanaians wishing to return home amid the heightened anti-immigration tensions.
