Avoid South Africa” — Ghana’s Warning Sparks Tourism Concerns

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Ghana has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa citing growing concerns of antimigrant tensions and incident targeting foreign nationals. But here's where the story get even bigger. South Africa's tourism industry is now openly discussing cancelled bookings, travel fears, and growing concerns over damage to the country's international image. So these booking cancellations are they from um the African continent is in African countries as a whole or does it include countries in the northern hemisphere?

[00:00:37]>> Um the the alert really came from the um the trade tours. So some of the companies um that are making bookings from the African continent. So largely from the west um from the east African countries. And when a country that depends on billions from tourism starts worrying about travelers staying away, then people begin asking difficult question that could South Africa's tourism sector be paying a price for its image problem. My name is Filon Quabin.

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[00:01:31]>> A major diplomatic, economic, and continental story is unfolding involving Ghana and South Africa. This is because Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal advisory warning citizens to exercise extreme caution and avoid non-essential travel to South Africa. Let me let me state this emphatically. No youth should go to South Africa.

[00:01:54]This morning as I'm speaking to you there is the school children in confronting they are protesting that foreigners should be kicked out. School children >> school children.

[00:02:06]>> School children. I can show you the video on my status. School children confronting this morning.

[00:02:14]And the government did what this morning? The the South African government they came to disperse them with hot water this morning school children. Now the question is how does a society inculcate hate into children less than 13 14 15.

[00:02:32]>> This was contained in a press release that was issued by Ghana's foreign affairs. Now let's get into the press release. So it reads a 1st June 2026.

[00:02:41]The government of the Republic of Ghana has observed with great concern increasing xenophobic attacks in South Africa targeted at Africans by groups presenting themselves as an anti-migrant vigilantes which have resulted in degrees of injuries, closure and takeover of businesses, looting and loss of properties. The Mahama administration has taken a number of steps including conveying formal protests at the highest diplomatic level, ceremony the South African acting high commissioner in Ara, petitioning the African Union and evacuating our nationals. The government of Ghana hereby advises Ghanaian nationals to exercise extreme caution in their travel plan and avoid non-essential travel to South Africa until further notice. Ghanaian nationals in the country are urged to maintain regular contact with the Ghana High Commission for Consular Services. It goes on to say that the government of the Republic of Ghana will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities of the Republic of South Africa to facilitate the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals to ensure their safety. In the meantime, the government of the Republic of Ghana wishes to call on the government of the Republic of South Africa to provide adequate security for targeted groups of Africans in each territory and take measures to enforce law and order and enfor to enforce law and order in the spirit of genuine panafricanism and African integration.

[00:04:04]Then he finalized by saying that the government of the Republic of Ghana retreat it commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Ghanaian nationals home and abroad and it is copied to all media houses with telephone numbers that you can call in case you find a need you are Ghanaian and I mean you find yourself in any of these attacks and you want to call. So that is the travel advisory from the ministry of foreign affairs from Ghana. So if you are in any part of Ghana, if you are in America, if you're in the United Kingdom, if you are in Barbados, wherever you are, and you plan on visiting South Africa, the Ghanaian government is telling you that until things stabilize, don't travel to South Africa. Don't go to South Africa for any reason because if you do and you are being attacked, I mean, you may not be lucky to leave to even make a report. So that's what the government of Ghana is saying. I'm only a journalist and I'm only I mean informing on I mean decision from the government of Ghana. In the meantime, African authorities have repeatedly emphasized that unlawful violence and intimidation against migrants are unacceptable and this is in a very important context immigration remains one of South Africa's most debated national issues. But here is the part many people are missing. This concern is no longer only coming from Ghana because South Africa's own tourism sector is publicly acknowledging potential fallout. And according to report and tourism discussions, tourism officials have raised concerns that protest and tensions involving foreign nationals could hurt South Africa's image as a leading travel destination.

[00:05:42]in in in terms of of the total arrivals of travelers visiting South Africa every year, 70% of our total come from the African continent.

[00:05:55]And you know, all of those people who arrived to be tourists in our country, they come through legal means. You know, they come with visas, they come through the airports, they come through the border post. And we're very grateful for that support. And that's my for the year going forward at South Africa. We are also going to participate in tourism trade fairs across the continent so that we also show support to to and and travel and trade for other African countries. But in terms of the whole perception of of xenophobia and all of that, that is something that cabinet must pronounce on as to what the official position of South Africa is. We respect the right of people to protest.

[00:06:48]That is part of our constitution and do so peacefully. So is finding that balance uh and and and addressing the grievances of the protesters. Government must show that we have listened to them and then we must find solutions so that we can all live peacefully together.

[00:07:08]>> One issue reportedly been discussed is the issue of cancelled bookings from several African countries. Tourism representatives have spoken about traveler concerns and report of booking cancellations following recent tensions.

[00:07:22]So these booking cancellations are they from um the African continent as an African countries as a whole or does it include countries in the northern hemisphere?

[00:07:36]>> Um good morning ties and your listeners.

[00:07:39]Just to clarify um the the alert really came from the um the trade tours. So some of the companies um that are making bookings from the African continent. So largely from the west um from the east African countries. So we had to then respond because um currently as you know that if one does not speak then you are left you know for the audiences to then assume your posture. So it has been critical for South African tourism to stand in um in alignment with the government's voice and posture in terms of what is currently happening in South Africa and as such we also condemn the the attacks on foreign nationals on illegal foreign nationals and then we are saying actually you know our view is pretty much simple that we stand for South Africans absolutely and for human rights we are very much synonymous about a country that values you know the rule of law. Um therefore we ought to act in that manner and leave such incidents for um the law enforcement to take its course.

[00:08:51]And I want to ask you this questions because there have been a various periods over the past um let me see dare I say 15 let's look at the 15 year period where >> okay 15 years >> there have been reports of so-called xenophobia or anti-forigner statement but I don't know about you but for me this time it feels different are you seeing different parameters to what is happening now >> I suppose I yes and no yes in that I think it's different in the sense that um the mobilization of people is visible you know people are out going on the streets they're going out rather than you know those incidents that are done you know secretly or you know in behind the scenes or in the dark but now what is different for me is that it also it goes far beyond don't just you know perceived xenophobia. it this thing started around if you if you really really look at it around education in early this year if not started last year late where there was the tension around the hospital access education access and and the fact that there's such an high influx of numbers of illegal foreign nationals that are occupying the you know um the hospitals and are they're getting access to education at the expense of an ordinary citizen and I think once when when it it hits to that level that's when you get such a resistant from the people of South Africa.

[00:10:33]So what are you saying to those who have made bookings and are cancelling them and those whom you trying to reassure that it is still safe to visit South Africa.

[00:10:48]Essentially what we'd like to um reinforce which is that you know South Africa is a country that is governed by its policies. It has its law enforcement. It has policies in place and governance regulations in place.

[00:11:06]Visitors are welcomed in South Africa.

[00:11:09]South Africa is very much known for hosting mega events and there's quite a number of events that are coming through this year. But we are seeing our borders remain open. We do have law enforcement that has been deployed to ensure that in highly concentrated areas of tourists there is police visibility but also to ensure that people when they come in and South Africans are here to also welcome with that spirit of Ubundu. So ours is really to ensure that there should not be any cancellations whatsoever. It's not as if people will land at the airport and as they land and they they leave the airport they're going to be attacked. That is just a different narrative. And the narrative that is correct is that you do land in South Africa and you do leave the airports uh nicely and go into your hotel or to whatever destination that you're going to and you will see police visibility.

[00:12:04]They are it's not like the country is in shambles at this stage. And that's what we're trying to curb from a narrative that suddenly sways it so much and exacerbates what is currently happening.

[00:12:17]difficult situation and we thank you for your time. Wish we had more so we can also just um look at uh who exactly is being sent away. I mean is being discouraged and why uh South African tourism chief marketing officers tila speaking to us about the cancellations that she says they've seen for potential visitors to South Africa East and West Africa. she mentions and I think I'd like to echo her sentiments. While one understands the fears, legitimate fears of foreign nationals visiting South Africa, just remember that it is still a functioning state. There is indeed um law enforcement and uh you can still visit. It's just that obviously the mood is >> So what do you think? Do you agree with Ghana in issuing this I mean travel adversary or you think it was unnecessary? Leave your comment in the comment section. is around for today >> them they are sitting at home they are lazy to work we must not work it >> it's not fair seriously >> then they if you if you only didn't last a week it's not even funny >> but the plan is that they were going to be here for the whole week you know the whole week sipping this area let them come back again the whole business.

[00:13:47]So what's going to happen? The same brothers there, their same brothers, same guys, we're going to fight them now. South Africans, we're going to fight South Africans.

[00:13:55]>> And the South African South Africans going to fight them now.

[00:13:59]And then they must come with home affairs guys. A guy from the street, he doesn't know if someone is in immigration or what, but what they go back home. Why they don't come with qualified people who knows and how to identify that this guy 2 million already.

[00:14:30]Okay.

[00:14:35]So this thing All I'm saying is that let them use the right channels to demonstrate to come push their agenda because certainly they obviously they do have an agenda. They are worried about foreigners that are undocumented in this country but let them use the right channel to do so. If they want to, let them apply >> and let let them be given permission to let let that thing have direction. Not just each and every Alive. Alive. Alive.

[00:16:02]Heat. Heat.

[00:16:23]Heat. Heat.

[00:16:45]Hello.

[00:17:01]Let me let me state this emphatically.

[00:17:04]No youth should go to South Africa.

[00:17:08]This morning as I'm speaking to you there is the school children in crowning they are protesting that foreigners should be kicked out. School children.

[00:17:19]>> School children.

[00:17:20]>> School children. I can show you the video on my status. school children confronting this morning and the government did what this morning the South African government they came to disperse them with hot water this morning school children now the question is how does a society inculcate hate into children less than 13 14 15 society inculcate hate into children less than 15 years to the extent that they would want their classmates kicked out of school.

[00:18:04]The South African economy is not great because they are doing all the right things. It's because people are bringing different skills, different products, different services.

[00:18:15]And if if all foreigners leave South Africa will collapse and that is the truth. Do you think there should be a reorientation of what Africa has done for South Africa as a nation?

[00:18:30]No, I I think um South Africans are suffering from the the what the the outburst of the appetite uh system. They they suffered.

[00:18:46]Regardless, it's been over how many years? It's it's been over 20 years.

[00:18:52]>> Mhm.

[00:18:53]>> Since you took over your country. So, it's enough time for you to have a deliberate educational attempt at making people understand that the plight of your citizens is not the fault of others.