A total of 41 more Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa arrived in Ghana.

They arrived at the Accra International Airport on Wednesday, September 2, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of Ghanaians affected by the attacks.

They were welcomed Ambassador Alexander Grant Ntrakwa, Head of the Delivery Unit, together with Directors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Health Service, Port Health Authority, Ghana Red Cross Society and the Ghana Armed Forces.

Recently, a Ghanaian evacuee from South Africa died shortly after arriving at the Accra International Airport on Friday, August 14.

The deceased was among 50 Ghanaians who arrived in the country at 5:50 p.m. aboard an Air Tanzania flight from South Africa as part of the government’s ongoing evacuation exercise following xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Ghanaians.

However, he was pronounced dead at the Emergency Medical Reception at the airport after unsuccessful attempts by doctors to save his life.

According to fellow passengers, the deceased’s health condition began to worsen about 30 minutes before arriving at the Kotoka Airport.

So far, Ghana has lost three individuals to xenophobic attacks in South Africa. A 44-year-old father of three, Bashiru Isaac, was fatally shot in Khayelitsha, while Kojo Antwi was killed in Prieska on July 18.The second victim, Kojo Antwi was killed in Prieska, Northern Cape Province on July 18.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s (SA) Foreign Minister, Ronald Lamola, has stated that the current migration-related challenges will not stand in the way of South Africa-Ghana bilateral relations.

During a meeting with President John Dramani Mahama, SA’s Foreign Minister acknowledged concerns raised by Ghana over reports involving harsh treatment against migrants.

However, he noted that the two countries go way back, thus, parting ways now is not the answer.“There was an agreement between ourselves and Ghana that the current migration-related challenges will not stand in the way of South Africa-Ghana bilateral relations. It does not impact the Ghana-South Africa bilateral relations because South Africa and Ghana have got long enduring challenges, good friendship and relations.

“All countries have got the right to enforce, it’s within the sovereign state to enforce immigration laws but immigration must be regular, must be orderly, in line with the protocols of the AU, of our own SADC. It should not be a disorder immigration,” he said.

Ronald Lamola was part of the delegation sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to Ghana to engage President John Dramani Mahama on measures to address the recurring xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa.

During the meeting, President Mahama expressed concern over the recent attacks and called for a permanent end to such incidents. President Mahama stressed the need to protect the rights and safety of all foreign nationals living in South Africa.

This information was made public by President Mahama when meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssou, at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, July 22.

He added, “On, July 21, President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a delegation to me, and I explained the reason why we need to discuss it. Sometimes these things happen, and we want to sweep them under the carpet, but when we do that, we do not cure what the problem is,” he said.

“I told them that Ghana does not harbour any malice against South Africa, but we are raising it so it gives them the platform to explain what they are doing to the world.”