The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, has strongly condemned the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, calling for a united and decisive African response to the recurring violence against foreign nationals.
His comments come amid public debate over whether Ghana should refuse to renew the lease of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, a South African company operating in the country, in response to xenophobic attacks that have affected migrants, including Ghanaians.
While some groups are pushing for retaliatory measures through the lease renewal process, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Ghana has called for a broader resource nationalism approach within Ghana’s extractive sector.
However, Ing. Ashigbey insists the situation demands a stronger moral and political stance across the continent, urging African nations to speak with one voice against xenophobia.
Speaking on Citi Prime News on Friday, May 29, he described the attacks as “shameful and regrettable,” particularly given the historical solidarity Ghana and other African countries extended to South Africa during the anti-Apartheid struggle.
He further called for continental unity in confronting the issue, stressing the need for firm action through regional institutions.
He commended Ghana’s decision to escalate the matter to the African Union, saying it was the right platform to ensure accountability and collective action.
“It is so shameful and regrettable that a country that Ghana and other countries have supported during the period of Apartheid would come to this,” he said.
“I support the stance government has taken, going to the AU and now ensuring that this xenophobic attacks have been tabled at the AU so that we use those means to be able to ensure that we deal with this.
“We should send very clear messages to the South Africans that they should not let their actions put a spanner in the wheel of move for African unity and the African trade agreement,” he added.
