The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has expressed concern over conflicting accounts from Ghana and South Africa regarding the death of a Ghanaian national in Cape Town, describing the situation as “deeply disturbing”.
The MP said it is unacceptable for two sovereign states to present different versions of the circumstances surrounding the death of a Ghanaian tailor in South Africa, stressing the need for a clear and agreed account of what actually happened.
“A fact should be a fact. We should not have different accounts as to what is happening in South Africa,” he said.
He added that if a Ghanaian citizen has indeed died abroad, both countries must ensure the facts are properly established and consistent.
“If it is the case that we have sadly lost one of our compatriots in South Africa, that should be established,” he said. “We cannot be in a situation where two sovereign governments have conflicting reports about the death of a Ghanaian citizen. That is most unfortunate and very disturbing.”
The controversy stems from differing statements issued by authorities in Accra and Pretoria. The Government of Ghana earlier indicated that the victim died on June 30 during anti-immigration demonstrations linked to xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
However, South African officials have rejected that account. In a statement, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, who also chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, said Ghana’s version of events was not supported by police investigations.
According to South African police in the Western Cape, the Ghanaian national was shot on June 29 at a barbershop in Nyanga during what appears to have been a robbery and extortion incident.
Investigators say unknown assailants entered the shop, demanded money, and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Authorities believe the attack may be criminal rather than politically motivated, and investigations are ongoing.
Mr Jinapor warned that the disagreement between the two countries reflects a growing strain in diplomatic relations, which he said should not be allowed to deteriorate further.
“Quite clearly, there is some breakdown of trust between our respective governments, and the bilateral relations between Ghana and South Africa are at their lowest,” he noted on JoyNews on Thursday, July 2.
He called for higher-level diplomatic engagement to resolve the matter, suggesting that both presidents intervene directly to restore trust and clarity.
“I think the engagement should be elevated to the level of the presidency,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be a functional relationship between the two foreign ministers.”
The lawmaker urged both countries to prioritise accurate information and cooperation in handling the case, stressing that the situation should not be allowed to further strain already sensitive diplomatic relations.
