Ghana has decided to postpone bilateral meetings with South Africa scheduled for next month. The decision comes as the South African government struggles to contain rising anti-migrant violence. Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has urged the government to ensure all decisions taken in response to developments in Ghana's foreign relations are backed by facts.
He said Ghana's foreign policy must always be guided by the national interest as required by the Constitution. Jinapor's comments come after Ghana postponed bilateral meetings with South Africa over a surge in anti-migrant violence in the country. He said Ghana's international engagements must reflect the country's interests and protect its citizens abroad.
Jinapor stressed that all foreign relations, all foreign posturing, and the conduct of foreign policy should be one that promotes the national interest of the country. 'In the discussion, we need to ensure also that our foreign policy is credible, and that whatever stance we take, whatever measures we take are those that are supported by unimpeachable facts on the ground,' he said.
The former Foreign Affairs Minister also backed Ghana's decision to raise the matter at the African Union level and push for stronger action against xenophobic attacks. Jinapor said Ghana's call for South African authorities to take responsibility in dealing with the attacks also had the Minority's backing.
However, he cautioned that Ghana's foreign policy actions must maintain credibility and be based on verifiable information. 'In the discussion, we need to ensure also that our foreign policy is credible, and that whatever stance we take, whatever measures we take are those that are supported by unimpeachable facts on the ground,' he said.
The country's decision to escalate the matter to the African Union level and to call on the African Union to consider sanctions against South Africa is one that we support. We are very much in support of all those. Ghana's call for South African authorities to take responsibility in dealing with the attacks also had the Minority's backing.
Ghana's international engagements must reflect the country's interests and protect its citizens abroad. Jinapor said Ghana's response to international issues must be guided by evidence. 'In the discussion, we need to ensure also that our foreign policy is credible, and that whatever stance we take, whatever measures we take are those that are supported by unimpeachable facts on the ground,' he said.
Jinapor has consistently supported efforts by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and government to address concerns affecting Ghanaian citizens abroad. He said he has never lost the opportunity to make this point that we support the Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President and the Government of Ghana to take up the matters relating to our compatriots in South Africa.
The Minority supports steps taken by government to protect Ghanaians living in South Africa. Jinapor said all the measures, or whatever measures our government is taking in the past to protect Ghanaians in South Africa are those that we, in the minority, fully support.
The government's decision to escalate the matter to the African Union level and to call on the African Union to consider sanctions against South Africa is one that we support. Jinapor said Ghana's call for South African authorities to take responsibility in dealing with the attacks also had the Minority's backing.
Ghana's call for South African authorities to take responsibility in dealing with the attacks also had the Minority's backing. Jinapor urged the government to ensure all decisions taken in response to developments in Ghana's foreign relations are backed by facts.
Jinapor said Ghana's foreign policy actions must maintain credibility and be based on verifiable information. He urged the government to ensure all decisions taken in response to developments in Ghana's foreign relations are backed by facts. Jinapor said Ghana's foreign policy must always be guided by the national interest as required by the Constitution.