Samuel Abu Jinapor, a Member of Parliament for Damongo, is asking African leaders to take stronger action against xenophobic violence in South Africa. He believes the African Union should consider imposing sanctions on South Africa. Mr. Jinapor made these statements on May 30th during a television interview on JoyNews. His comments come as Ghana works to bring its citizens home from South Africa. Around 300 Ghanaians have already returned safely. More are expected to be evacuated soon.
These attacks in South Africa have caused fear among African migrants. Foreign nationals have faced violence and property destruction. This has strained relationships between South Africa and other African nations. Mr. Jinapor strongly condemned these attacks. He wants South African authorities to deal severely with those responsible. He stated on May 30th that South Africa needs to confront this unfortunate behaviour from some of its citizens.
The regular occurrence of these attacks raises questions. It makes people wonder if South Africa is doing enough to prevent them. Mr. Jinapor thinks this is not just a South African problem. It is a continental issue needing a unified response. He suggested taking the matter to the African Union for discussion. Discussions could include sanctions or other measures to force stronger action. The situation, he argued, needs attention at the highest levels. This refers to the heads of African governments meeting at the AU.
Mr. Jinapor also challenged some explanations for the violence. He argued that blaming only unemployment and economic hardship is too simple. South Africa faces social and economic pressures. However, he believes the problem is deeper. It reflects issues within South Africa's political and social system. He mentioned that questions about political leadership's role are valid. Mr. Jinapor criticized what he called 'constructive complicity' from the government. This means the government might indirectly allow or ignore the problem.
Despite his strong words, Mr. Jinapor warned against retaliation. He urged people not to target South Africans living in Ghana or elsewhere. He understands the strong emotions these events cause. However, he cautioned that random attacks would worsen the already bad situation. He said, "I can very well understand the kind of emotion this evokes." He stressed the need for careful public discussion. He wants to prevent actions that could put South Africans in Ghana at risk. The Ghanaian government is working with officials to ensure safe returns for its citizens.