Ties with Ghana strong despite migration tensions – South African Foreign Minister

South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Ronald Lamola, has said concerns over migration issues between Ghana and South Africa will not affect the longstanding relations between the two countries.

His comments follow a recent visit to Ghana, where he served as a special envoy for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and delivered a message to President John Dramani Mahama.

According to Mr Lamola, both countries agreed that migration-related challenges should not undermine their strong diplomatic ties, which have been built over years of friendship and cooperation.

“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,” he said.

He explained that Ghana’s concerns provided an opportunity for South Africa to clarify its position on the treatment of migrants and broader immigration issues.

Mr Lamola said South Africa recognises the right of sovereign states to enforce their immigration laws but stressed that such enforcement must be conducted in an orderly and humane manner.

“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.

The South African Foreign Minister acknowledged concerns raised by Ghana over reports involving migrants but cautioned that irregular migration should not lead to individuals taking the law into their own hands.

He condemned acts of vigilantism and assured that the South African government does not support any unlawful treatment of migrants.

Mr Lamola added that South African authorities remain committed to ensuring that anyone who violates the law in connection with attacks or mistreatment of migrants faces the appropriate legal consequences.

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