The South African and Ghanaian authorities are at odds, in connection with the death of a Ghanaian man in Cape Town.
According to police, a 35-year-old foreign national was shot and killed, reportedly at his workplace, in Nyanga on Monday afternoon. Police believe the incident was a crime of extortion.
“According to reports unknown suspects entered the barbershop and demanded money from the victim before he was shot. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. The motive for the attack is believed to be extortion related,” said Sergeant Wesley Twigg.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablakwa, on Wednesday shared a statement on his social media condemning the killing but claimed it occurred in Khayelitsha during protest action on Tuesday and that it was due to xenophobic violence.
A Ghanaian news agency also reflected this incident, with a similar narrative.
In the statement, his department demanded a “full, transparent and expedited investigation” by local authorities.
“Ghana will continue to pursue all diplomatic, consular and multilateral avenues to protect the lives and welfare of its citizens abroad and to ensure that such attacks are not repeated,” read the statement.
Government of Ghana’s prompt interventions following the killing of a Ghanaian in South Africa during the June 30 violent demonstrations.
We convey deepest condolences to the family of Bashiru Isak.
The pursuit of justice shall be non-negotiable. pic.twitter.com/qHCZ8V3ns8
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) July 1, 2026
A follow-up statement by the Western Cape SAPS on Thursday identified the man as Kwabena Boagen, adding that the incident occurred “in front of NTG hair salon and shoe repairs at approximately 15:45”. In this statement, Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed that a murder was being investigated and that Nyanga detectives have been in touch with the relatives of the deceased.
“The victim resided in the Khayelitsha area but worked in Nyanga… In as far as the media release issued by the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the South African Police Service bears no record of the Khayelitsha murder hence an earnest plea is made to the authorities in question to provide details of the Khayelitsha incident to the SAPS in order for the matter to be probed further,” said Potelwa.
The chair of the government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee for Migration, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, rejected the Ghanaian authorities’ assertions, noting that it is factually incorrect.
Kubayi warned against the spread of misinformation that she says fuels a false narrative that South African is xenophobic.
“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration. The fact of the matter is that no fatalities have been recorded during the day of these demonstrations and isolated incidents of criminality that occurred on the day have been acted upon by the law enforcement authorities,” Kubayi said.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola acknowledged Ablakwa’s social media post, echoing Kubayi’s sentiment.
“We once again we appeal to all partners and stakeholders to work alongside the South African government in ensuring that information shared with the public is verified, accurate, and responsibly communicated,” read Lamola’s post.
The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased Ghanaian national, and to the Government and people of Ghana, following the tragic loss of their citizen in the Western Cape.
We refer to the statement issued… https://t.co/88qG0BDg78 pic.twitter.com/cFUPry2wN7
— Minister: International Relations and Cooperation (@RonaldLamola) July 2, 2026
