Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, says the government is putting strong measures in place to protect businesses owned by Ghanaians in South Africa.
He explained that Ghana will demand compensation or take legal action if anyone attempts to seize or interfere with those businesses.
Quashie revealed while speaking on-air that Ghana has started registering businesses owned by its citizens in South Africa.
The process includes gathering legal ownership documents to help secure their investments.
“We’ve instituted measures to ensure that everybody who has business in this country, we protect that business,” he said. “And ensure that if the government of South Africa wants to take that business, there should be compensation to the owners of those businesses.”
He stated that Ghana would push for what he called “realistic compensation” for business owners who have spent years building their companies and investments.
“We know what the businesses are, we know the legal documents that they have, and we intend to take it strongly up against the government of South Africa,” he added.
Quashie also said Ghana plans to raise the issue before the African Union. He described the move as part of wider efforts to tackle repeated xenophobic attacks against African nationals living in South Africa.
According to him, Ghana has already informed South African authorities about its concerns and expects them to treat the matter seriously to prevent diplomatic tensions.
“If not, then compensation and other things they will be paying to those people, it will be a matter that will be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
His comments follow Ghana’s recent petition to the African Union, asking the continental body to discuss xenophobic attacks in South Africa during its upcoming Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.
The petition urged the African Union to introduce stronger continental measures, including monitoring systems, fact-finding missions, and dialogue programmes aimed at preventing violence and protecting African nationals.
In recent weeks, Ghana also organised the evacuation of some of its citizens from South Africa. The first group arrived in Ghana on Wednesday, May 27, after renewed tensions and reports of attacks on foreign nationals.
Officials say the government continues to engage diplomatically while closely monitoring the situation and introducing additional protective measures.
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