No Ghanaian in Custody After South Africa Anti-Immigration Protests – High Commissioner

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, has confirmed that no Ghanaian remains in police custody following anti-immigration protests held across parts of South Africa on Tuesday.

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Quashie said the Ghana High Commission had closely monitored the demonstrations from the early hours of the day and successfully secured the release of all Ghanaians who were temporarily detained by South African authorities.

“We’ve been monitoring the situation since 6 a.m. this morning. A couple of Ghanaians were arrested, and I can confidently say all of them have been released through the intervention of our consular officers,” he said.

According to the High Commissioner, those detained were stopped during routine immigration checks and asked to produce identification documents. After identifying themselves as Ghanaians, South African authorities contacted the High Commission to verify their nationality before releasing them.

Mr. Quashie explained that the Ghana High Commission has an established arrangement with South African law enforcement agencies requiring officials to notify the mission whenever a Ghanaian national is arrested.

“The agreement is that if any Ghanaian is arrested, the authorities should first confirm with us. We verify whether the individual is indeed Ghanaian and advise accordingly,” he stated.

His comments come amid heightened anti-immigration demonstrations in several South African cities, including Pretoria, where protesters demanded stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

The protests have created anxiety among migrant communities, with many foreign nationals choosing to remain indoors or temporarily relocate for their safety.

Despite the unrest, Mr. Quashie said the High Commission had not received reports of widespread attacks targeting Ghanaians.

He disclosed that only one Ghanaian was involved in an incident after ignoring the mission’s advice to stay indoors.

“The only case we recorded involved a Ghanaian who admitted leaving his accommodation to visit his shop despite our advice. Unfortunately, protesters confronted him,” he said.

Apart from that isolated incident, the High Commissioner stressed that no Ghanaian had been injured, caught in the violence, or had property destroyed during the demonstrations.

The Ghana High Commission has urged Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and comply with safety directives issued by local authorities.

Mr. Quashie also revealed that the mission is preparing to organise another voluntary repatriation exercise next week for Ghanaian nationals who wish to return home as anti-immigration tensions continue to rise.