President John Dramani Mahama has strongly condemned the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, describing the incidents as a major setback to Africa’s long‑standing vision of unity, integration, and shared prosperity.
His remarks follow reports of violent attacks targeting Ghanaians and other African nationals, prompting the evacuation of about 300 Ghanaian citizens back home.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in London on Sunday, May 31, President Mahama expressed deep concern over the developments, stressing that such acts weaken efforts to strengthen cooperation among African nations and advance continental development.
“We’ve always pushed for African unity, and so it’s sad to see some of the things that are happening on the continent. There’s no way that any African country can achieve the kind of progress that it needs without working with other countries. We cannot achieve it in isolation,” he said.
He emphasised that Africa’s progress depends on collaboration, not division, pointing to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key instrument for promoting the free movement of people, goods, and services across the continent.
“That is why we passed AfCFTA, so that our people can move freely among themselves,” he added.
President Mahama urged African countries to remain committed to unity and solidarity, noting that stronger cooperation is essential to achieving the continent’s development goals.
His comments come as Ghana continues efforts to support citizens affected by the unrest in South Africa, with hundreds already evacuated through a government‑led operation coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ghana’s mission in Pretoria.
