South Africa Migrant Tensions: Why Ghana Must Focus on Growth
Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. asserts that Ghana cannot claim the moral high ground over South Africa's current migrant tensions, citing the country's own 1969 expulsion of foreign nationals. As Ghanaians return home from South Africa due to economic hardship and safety concerns, Ghana has a distinct opportunity to channel this returning diaspora talent into local economic growth and entrepreneurial innovation.
What is the reality on the ground for Ghanaians in South Africa?
Anti-immigrant sentiments in South Africa, driven by movements like the March on March, have left many African migrants fearing for their safety. However, personal experiences on the ground vary significantly. Speaking on Radio Gold on Sunday, July 5, 2026, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. detailed his recent four-day visit to Bela-Bela in Limpopo. After landing in Johannesburg, he drove to Bela-Bela without encountering any harassment.
I landed in Johannesburg and drove two and a half hours to Bela-Bela in Limpopo. I didn't have a scratch on my skin, nobody asked to see my passport, nothing. I stayed in Bela-Bela for four days... not a whimper against anybody. That's the reality.
Despite this, anxiety remains high among the diaspora. Pratt spoke with Ghanaians who are returning home. One traveler opted to leave South Africa temporarily, citing uncertainty about what could happen after June 30, and plans to monitor the situation before returning. Another Ghanaian returned after spending eight months struggling to find employment. With financial difficulties making it impossible to stay, relatives had to purchase his return ticket.
How does Ghana's 1969 Aliens Compliance Order connect to this?
While the treatment of migrants in South Africa raises serious concerns, Pratt emphasized that Ghanaians must confront their own history before criticizing others. He argued that the current hostility in South Africa mirrors Ghana's past actions.
Today, this is happening in South Africa and I'm sitting in this studio as a Ghanaian. I find it so difficult to mount any moral high ground because we started it.
Pratt recalled the 1969 Aliens Compliance Order introduced under former Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia. This policy led to the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals, predominantly West Africans, from Ghana. He noted that Nigerians died in their hundreds, and Togolese nationals were maltreated and beaten, driven by the same economic frustrations seen in Johannesburg today.
Can returning diaspora talent drive Ghana's economic growth?
The return of these citizens should not be viewed solely as a crisis, but as a catalyst for economic reform. Ghana must pivot from moral judgment to actionable business innovation. If we are to build an Africa that truly moves forward, we need robust economic policies, transparent governance, and a business environment that empowers returning diaspora talent to invest their skills locally.
Entrepreneurship is the antidote to xenophobia. When Ghanaians return home because opportunities abroad have dried up, the government and private sector must ensure the ecosystem is ready to support their entrepreneurial ambitions. By prioritizing international openness and economic reforms, Ghana can transform this brain circulation into a powerful engine for domestic growth and set a new standard for African solidarity.
What was the 1969 Aliens Compliance Order in Ghana?
The 1969 Aliens Compliance Order was a policy enacted under Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia that expelled hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals, especially West Africans, from Ghana.
Why are Ghanaians returning from South Africa in 2026?
Ghanaians are returning from South Africa due to rising anti-immigrant sentiments, safety concerns following planned protests, and severe economic hardships, including the inability to secure employment.
How can Ghana turn the return of migrants into a business opportunity?
Ghana can turn the return of migrants into a business opportunity by implementing economic reforms that support entrepreneurship, offering transparent pathways for diaspora investment, and fostering a climate of international openness.