Caucus demands direct presidential engagement with South Africa, citing ‘organised violence’ against Ghanaians and law enforcement inaction; suggests compensation for victims and AU inquiry.

President John Dramani Mahama is facing mounting pressure from Parliament’s Minority Caucus to personally intervene in the escalating xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaians and other African nationals in South Africa.

The Caucus has declared that ministerial-level engagement alone is insufficient to address the crisis.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the Minority Caucus acknowledged the actions taken so far by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, including engagement with South African authorities and the provision of consular assistance. However, the Caucus stressed that “while these are necessary first steps, they must be followed by clear and decisive action” – action that the lawmakers believe requires the direct involvement of the President.

‘Presidential-Level Engagement’ Demanded

The Minority called for immediate presidential-level engagement to secure clear commitments on protection and enforcement from South African authorities.

“The safety of Ghanaians abroad is a responsibility of the State and must be treated with urgency and seriousness,” the statement signed by Samuel A. Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Damongo and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, declared.

The Caucus further proposed deploying additional consular support to assist affected Ghanaians and urged the government to work with ECOWAS partners to present a unified regional response to what it described as a recurring pattern of xenophobic violence.

‘Organised Violence’ and Law Enforcement Concerns

According to the statement, incidents reported in parts of South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, and Gauteng, indicate “a troubling pattern of organised violence,” with Ghanaian-owned businesses targeted and individuals subjected to harassment and assault.

The Minority raised particular alarm over reports that some incidents occurred in the presence of law enforcement officers without effective intervention, noting that this “raises serious questions about enforcement and accountability.”

The Caucus also cited the widely circulated assault on a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, as evidence of the severity of the situation, describing it as bringing “the reality of these attacks into sharp focus.”

Concrete Demands for South Africa

The Minority called for measurable responses from both governments and urged South African authorities to ensure “the prompt arrest and prosecution of those responsible” and to guarantee protection for foreign nationals.

Beyond immediate security measures, the Caucus demanded concrete assurances from South Africa, including:

• Confirmed arrests of perpetrators
• Clear prosecutorial steps
• A practical protection plan for foreign nationals living in South Africa

The statement also suggested that “consideration should be given to compensation for those who have suffered losses as a result of these attacks.”

Escalation to African Union

In a significant diplomatic move, the Caucus called for the issue to be escalated to the African Union for an urgent inquiry into what it described as a recurring pattern of xenophobic violence in South Africa.

“As a founding state of the OAU and custodian of the Pan-African ideal, Ghana has both the standing and the obligation to press this matter,” the statement noted.

Advice to Ghanaians in South Africa

The Minority advised Ghanaians in South Africa to remain vigilant and maintain contact with Ghana’s High Commission, stressing that “your safety is of paramount importance.”

The Caucus emphasised the need to protect the principles of African unity and solidarity, explaining that “the ties between African nations are built on mutual respect and shared responsibility. Those principles must be upheld in practice.”

What Comes Next

The ball is now in President Mahama’s court. While Ablakwa has engaged diplomatically, the Minority’s demand for presidential-level intervention raises the stakes significantly. Whether Mahama will directly engage with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – who has publicly condemned the attacks – or pursue the recommended AU escalation remains to be seen.

For now, the Minority has made its position clear: ministerial talks are a start, but only the President can secure the firm commitments needed to protect Ghanaians abroad.

Accra balked at terms requiring the sharing of sensitive health data, becoming the latest African nation to reject Washington’s “America First” aid model.

Ghana has rejected a bilateral health deal with the United States, a source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters, marking the latest stumbling block to the Trump administration’s effort to overhaul foreign aid and the third African nation to push back against the new aid terms.

The government of President John Dramani Mahama balked at requirements that would have mandated the sharing of sensitive health data, according to the source. That same issue previously sank talks with Zimbabwe this year and also prompted a court to suspend implementation of Kenya’s deal pending the hearing of a case filed by a consumer protection group.

Spokespeople for Ghana’s foreign ministry and government did not respond to requests for comment, reports Reuters.

Intense US Pressure to Sign, Source Says

The proposed deal, which the two sides began negotiating last November, would have called for $109 million in U.S. assistance for health over five years, the source said.

It was unclear how much Ghana would have been expected to contribute under the new co-investment model.

The United States had disbursed $219 million in foreign assistance to Ghana for 2024, including $96 million specifically for health, according to government foreign assistance data. That figure predates the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid and the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) last year.

“They were pretty normal dealings and negotiations in the beginning, and then increasingly there was a lot more pressure, especially at the end,” the source said of the talks.

Washington ultimately set April 24 as a deadline to conclude the negotiations. Accra decided it could not agree to what was being proposed and has communicated its position to the Trump administration, the source said.

America First Health Strategy

The Trump administration in September announced a new “America First Global Health Strategy” that calls for poorer nations to play a larger role in fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio in their countries, with an eventual transition from aid to self-reliance.

The U.S. State Department said it does not disclose details of bilateral negotiations. “We continue to look for ways to strengthen the bilateral partnership between our two countries,” a spokesperson said.

As of Monday, the State Department had signed 32 deals under the strategy, representing $20.6 billion in funding — made up of $12.8 billion from the U.S. and $7.8 billion in “co-investment from recipient countries,” the spokesperson said. Washington expects additional memorandums of understanding to be signed in the near future.

Broader Implications

Ghana’s rejection follows a growing pattern of African nations resisting U.S. aid terms that they view as infringing on data sovereignty and national decision-making. The collapse of negotiations raises questions about the future of U.S.-funded health programs in Ghana, particularly those targeting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis — areas that have historically relied on significant American support.

Neither the Ghanaian government nor the U.S. State Department has provided official comment on the specific terms that led to the breakdown. However, the source’s account suggests that the dispute centers on data access provisions that Accra found unacceptable.

For now, the $109 million package remains unsigned, and Ghana joins a growing list of countries unwilling to accept the Trump administration’s new aid framework as written.

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