The Coalition of Concerned Youth (CCY) is deeply disheartened by the recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa targeting foreign nationals.
In a press release signed by the Executive Director of the Coalition, Mr Richard Boakye Mensah indicated that the repeated attacks on foreign businesses and individuals including harassment and assault particularly against Ghanaians and Nigerians violates the fundamental rightsi of citizens at the global scene.
Mr. Richard Boakye stated that while President Cyril Ramaphosa’s condemnation of violent protests and criminal acts against foreign nationals is noted, it is not enough.
The South African government he said, must arrest and prosecute the perpetrators to demonstrate genuine commitment to end the xenophobia.
We are calling on the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS to urgently summon South African authorities over attacks on African nationals and impose sanctions before other countries take similar action.
The Coalition appealed to the Government of Ghana and Parliament to speak out strongly and caution South African youth to desist from these acts, before Ghanaian citizens are forced to take the law into their own handsd.
Mr Boakye further urged Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the deportation of South African nationals residing illegally in Ghana including those with expired visas or who have overstayed their permits.
They must leave our country without delay, the Coalition advised.
While the Coalition commends the government for evacuating 300 Ghanaians from South Africa with over 800 more expected to return home, we welcome our brothers and sisters back home.
The Coalition of Concerned Youth also issue a stern caution to the South African government to recall its nationals from Ghana.
South African companies make enormous profits in Ghana daily citing companies like MTN, MultiChoice/DStv, AngloGold Ashanti, Shoprite, Standard Bank, SABMiller among others
We therefore appeal to government to review and if necessary, terminate their operating contracts and ask them to exit Ghana.
Ghanaians are capable of managing our own affairs and building our economy.
South Africans are not more human than any other Africans, Richard Boakye Mensah noted.
As Ghanaian youth, we stand in solidarity with our Nigerian brothers and sisters.
We plead with government to commence the deportation of South African nationals without valid documents by the end of June, before our frustration and anger boil over.
We do not want to resort to lawlessness. We are simply asking South Africa to allow its nationals to leave peacefully, the Executive Director of the Coalition of Concerned Youth, Mr Richard Boakye Mensah concluded.
