Lamola slams Ghana over migration ‘cheap shots’

Minister of international relations and co-operationRonald Lamolasays Ghana’s intention to take SA to the African Union over the country’s recent immigration tensions is premature. According to Lamola, Ghana is pointing fingers instead of engaging constructively on the continent’sbroader migration crisis. This comes as the Inter-Ministerial Committee revealed that more than 72,900 foreign nationals had been repatriated, 354 criminal cases had been registered and nearly 29,000 immigration-related court matters had been finalised as government intensifies its immigration enforcement campaign.

Lamola’s remarks follow his recent visit to Accra as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy, where he metGhanaian President John Mahamaand Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to discuss concerns surrounding South Africa’s immigration operations. Speaking at a media briefing in Hatfield on Sunday, Lamola said discussions with the Ghanaian government reaffirmed the long-standing relationship between the two countries and recognised South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws. “Ghana acknowledged that South Africa is a sovereign country and has the right to enforce its immigration laws, just as Ghana has the right to enforce its own,” Lamola said.

He said Ghana’s primary concern centred on violence accompanying anti-immigration protests and the perception that private groups had taken immigration enforcement into their own hands. “We responded that South African authorities have acted. “There have been arrests of those impersonating police officers and those involved in criminal acts during these protests.

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There is no impunity. Lamolaadded that South Africa had also informed Ghana that criminal cases involving attacks on foreign nationals, including the killing of a Ghanaian national in Nyanga, Western Cape, remained active police investigations. He confirmed that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights had notified South Africa of an upcoming visit to engage government and other stakeholders on the issue.

“We have invited them to South Africa. We are a constitutional democracy that is open and transparent. Government, human rights bodies and other stakeholders will engage with them on the actions that have been taken,” he said.

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