Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has rejected claims that African migrants, including Ghanaians, are largely responsible for criminal activities in South Africa, describing such assertions as inaccurate and misleading.
Speaking in a special interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, Mr Ablakwa said there was no evidence to support suggestions that Ghanaians living in South Africa were involved in organised criminal networks.
Instead, he noted that many Ghanaians have often been victims of crime, including robbery and other security-related incidents.
“Ghanaians are generally law-abiding people,” the minister stated. “As part of the evacuation process, South African authorities requested that their crime-fighting agencies be present at our High Commission to screen applicants against their criminal database because they were looking out for wanted suspects.
”He said the screening process had produced a surprising outcome.
“Not a single Ghanaian has been identified as a person of interest to South African authorities,” he revealed.
“On the contrary, many Ghanaians have themselves been victims of criminal activities.
”Mr Ablakwa stressed that such findings challenge the narrative often used to justify hostility towards foreign nationals and underscore the need for a more balanced understanding of the situation.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad while continuing to promote peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and stronger relations among African countries.