The Ghanaian government has declined a planned state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid concerns over the death of a Ghanaian citizen and reports of xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaians in South Africa.

The decision follows the death of 40-year-old Bashiru Isak, who Ghanaian authorities say was killed during demonstrations linked to renewed attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa on June 30, 2026.

Government sources said the move was taken in response to growing concerns about the safety of Ghanaian nationals living in South Africa and the need for urgent action to address reported incidents of violence against foreigners.

President Ramaphosa was scheduled to visit Ghana in the first week of August as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations and discuss issues of mutual interest, including concerns over attacks against foreign nationals.

However, Ghanaian authorities indicated that the current circumstances required attention before such a high-level diplomatic engagement could proceed.

The Ghanaian government has also formally lodged a protest with South African authorities over the death of Mr Isak and broader concerns regarding the protection of Ghanaian citizens in South Africa.

According to Ghanaian officials, Mr Isak was shot and killed during what they described as “anti-immigrant demonstrations linked to ongoing xenophobic attacks” in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township.

South African authorities have disputed Ghana’s account of the incident, describing the claims as inaccurate and unsupported by facts.

The South African government stated that no deaths were recorded during the June 30 demonstrations, which drew thousands of protesters in various parts of the country.

South Africa’s Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, criticised Ghana’s description of the incident, arguing that it could create a misleading impression about the country.

She said Ghana’s claims about the demonstrations and irregular migration issues were concerning and accused authorities of spreading information that could reinforce what she described as a false narrative that South Africa is hostile towards foreigners.

The disagreement has renewed conversations about the safety and treatment of African migrants in South Africa, with Ghana calling for stronger measures to protect its citizens abroad.

Ghana and South Africa have maintained long-standing diplomatic relations, with cooperation in areas including trade, investment, regional security and political affairs. However, the latest dispute has created tensions between the two countries as both sides seek to address the concerns surrounding the incident.