H.E. John Dramani Mahama & Nana Addo condemn the xenophobic attacks in South Africa

H.E. John Dramani Mahama Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has issued a statement on behalf of the group condemning these attacks. The text of the statement is below;

The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has condemned the barbaric, criminal and xenophobic murder of innocent African foreigners in South Africa, urging the South African Government to act quickly to stop the increasing wave of attacks across its country. An ECOWAS statement signed by the Chair of the Authority, HE John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, also condemned the individual South Africans involved in the act.

The West African body described as a pity, the fact that the very people, whose nations sacrificed to help South Africans fight, repel and defeat apartheid, will today be considered aliens and hacked to death in such barbaric manners. “We welcome the statement of our brother, President Jacob Zuma, and his assurances of a peaceful resolution, but we request for an urgent national action plan, backed by a behavioral change campaign against xenophobia in South Africa”, the statement added. ACCRA, 16 April 2015

Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the NPP has also issued a statement condemning xenophobic attacks in South Africa. It also reads

Over the past few days, I have learnt with utmost shock about the sickening and despicable acts of appalling brutality being perpetrated by local mobs in some parts of South Africa against immigrants, mainly black Africans and their businesses.

I condemn in the strongest terms these acts of persecution, which have so far, according to reports, claimed the lives of at least six people, including a 14-year old boy. There are also unconfirmed reports of a Ghanaian being among the dead. We expect Ghana’s mission in South Africa to be a lot more helpful with the flow of information for Ghanaians worried about the fate of our compatriots in South Africa.

I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed in these unacceptable attacks. My thoughts and prayers are with the injured and the displaced.

I know at firsthand the extraordinary warmth and decency of the people of South Africa, the vast majority of whom are against acts that seek to violate the right to life of others. To this end, I respectfully urge President Jacob Zuma to do all in his power to ensure that these attacks end, as well as bring to book all persons responsible for this wave of violence.

President Mahama, through Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa, must come to the aid of all Ghanaians who are in need of help.

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