The Member of Parliament for the Afadzato South constituency, Hon. Frank Afriyie, has issued a stark warning to Parliament that xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa represent a betrayal of the continent’s liberation history, declaring “Nelson Mandela will be turning in his grave out of shame.”
Speaking during parliamentary proceedings, the lawmaker described the violence as “shameful, decisive and a deliberate attack that must be three hundred and sixty degrees condemned roundly in this chamber.”
The MP framed the crisis as an assault on African unity.
“This is something that they have contemplated and for us, we must show that Africa has values, values of collectivism, values of interdependence,” he said.
He referenced a recent interparliamentary conference on African values and sovereignty where “colleagues from South Africa were unavoidably missing,” arguing their absence reflected the same inaction now failing victims of the attacks.
He warned that the violence is spreading beyond South Africa’s borders adding, “This is something that is even cascading gradually beyond the borders of Africa,” the MP cautioned.
He cited incidents “over the weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland” where “houses belonging to black people were set ablaze.
Their sources of livelihood were destroyed.” Using the proverb “If you plant seeds, you are likely to reap the fruits of the seed you have planted,” he said South Africa’s example threatens black communities globally: “Our welfare everywhere in the whole globe cannot be guaranteed.”
Invoking South Africa’s iconic leader, the MP said Mandela’s legacy is being dishonored. “Today, Nkrumah can sleep and sleep well but I cannot say the same for President Nelson Mandela. He’s turning in his grave because of the inaction of our fellow black South Africans,” he stated.
He reminded the House that “Ghanaians, Nigerians, Africans of other countries stood toe to toe with the South Africans to fight apartheid only for black South Africans today to make the white South Africans vindicated” by killing fellow Africans.
The lawmaker dismissed claims that immigrants drive unemployment in South Africa.
“Some are even saying that the immigrants in South Africa are the cause of unemployment in South Africa.
Unemployment in South Africa is about thirty-two point seven percent.
The immigrants are about four to five percent.
Removing immigrants from South Africa makes nonsense of this whole thing,” he argued.
He agreed with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who called the violence “madness at its height.”
He blamed South Africa’s government for what he called a “lazy approach” to the crisis.
“It is a blatant failure of the government in South Africa. It is a blatant failure of the government in South Africa. It is a lazy approach to solving what they think is a problem,” he said, repeating the line for emphasis.
The MP called for diplomatic consequences, saying, “We must treat them as outcasts if need be. We must treat them as pariahs. They are not welcome in our mist,” citing “the principle of reciprocity, especially in diplomacy.”
Despite his strong language, the MP urged restraint rooted in African values.
“We are Africans. We can exact more harm and more violence, but we have chosen the path of civility simply because we are still the torch bearers of the principle of panafricanism,” he told Parliament.
His statement adds to growing calls for the African Union and ECOWAS to intervene and protect African migrants across the continent.
He closed with an appeal to Ghana’s founding vision. “Mister speaker, we really want our shining star, our first president, to keep sleeping,” he said, referencing Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The remark signals pressure on Ghana’s government to push for stronger continental action if xenophobic attacks continue.
Parliament is expected to take up further debate on foreign policy and migrant protection in the coming sessions.
By Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
About The Author
