Ghana has intensified pressure on the African Union to take decisive action against recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa by formally requesting that the issue be tabled at the bloc’s upcoming high-level meeting in Egypt.
In a letter dated May 6, 2026, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, urged the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa to treat the matter as an urgent continental concern.
The issue is expected to be discussed at the Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU scheduled for June 24 to June 27, 2026, in El Alamein.
Ghana expressed concern over repeated attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa, saying the violence has led to deaths, destruction of businesses, and growing insecurity for many migrants living there.
According to the government, the recurring incidents threaten the ideals of African unity and solidarity that underpin the vision of the African Union and the broader Pan-African movement.
The letter further argued that the attacks contradict the principles of the African Continental Free Trade Area by creating barriers to free movement and economic integration across the continent.
As part of its recommendations, Ghana called on the AU to strengthen monitoring systems to ensure member states comply with the African Union Constitutive Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The government also proposed the establishment of a fact-finding mission to investigate the causes of xenophobic violence in South Africa and recommend long-term solutions.
Additionally, Ghana urged the AU to promote dialogue, reconciliation, and inclusion efforts aimed at rebuilding trust and reinforcing continental unity among African citizens.
