By Ashiadey Dotse
A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, Nichiren Appiah Boadi, has backed calls for South Africa’s government to compensate Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks, insisting that compensation is a necessity rather than an option.
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Thursday, June 11, 2026, following reports that South Africa is considering compensation for Ghanaians who suffered losses during xenophobic attacks, Mr. Appiah Boadi said the recurring violence against foreign nationals, particularly Africans, has caused significant hardship and cannot be ignored.
“It is not a one-time incident. We see these actions almost every year, and people who are trying to build their lives should not be subjected to such brutality,” he said.
Mr. Appiah Boadi argued that South Africa should not merely be considering compensation but should be taking concrete steps to support victims who have lost businesses, jobs and sources of income as a result of the attacks.
According to him, xenophobic attacks in South Africa have become a perennial and disruptive occurrence that continues to affect the lives of hardworking Africans who have legally settled in the country in search of better opportunities.
He noted that many of the affected Ghanaians invested their life savings in businesses and livelihoods in South Africa and have now been forced to return home with little or nothing.
“Some owned shops, while others worked for companies and earned salaries. Through no fault of their own, they have lost everything because of the violence,” he stated.
He also highlighted the emotional and psychological impact of the attacks, especially on families and children who were forced to leave their lives behind and return to Ghana.
“Some of these people may never recover from the shock. I saw children arriving in Ghana after being evacuated. They had built their entire lives there, and now they must start all over again,” he said.
Mr. Appiah Boadi stressed that any compensation package should be substantial enough to help victims rebuild their lives and reintegrate into Ghanaian society.
He explained that returning victims would require support in areas such as transportation, accommodation and start-up capital to establish new businesses or secure employment.
“The compensation must not be symbolic. It should reflect the suffering people have gone through and provide them with the means to start their lives again,” he added.
The NDC communicator further expressed disappointment over what he described as the inability of South African authorities to prevent the attacks despite repeated incidents over the years.
He said images and reports from the attacks suggested that the violence was more widespread than isolated incidents and raised concerns about the effectiveness of South Africa’s response.
Mr. Appiah Boadi also criticised what he described as the weak response of continental institutions to xenophobic attacks, arguing that African leaders and organisations must do more to protect the welfare of Africans living in other African countries.
A former government spokesperson on Governance and Security, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, on the other hand, says compensation alone cannot solve the challenge of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, stressing that the country may not even have the resources to compensate all victims affected by such incidents.
Speaking on the same Breakfast Show, Mr. Boakye-Danquah, reacting to reports that South Africa is considering compensation for Ghanaians who suffered losses during xenophobic attacks in the country, was of the view that while discussions on compensation may be well-intentioned, the focus should rather be on protecting the dignity and rights of all Africans living in South Africa and preventing future attacks.
“When I look at Africa’s economy, I see a continent growing towards a population of about 1.6 billion people. Let us be realistic. If the South African government compensates Ghanaians for what they have gone through, would it also compensate Nigerians? Would it compensate Mozambicans and others affected by similar incidents?” he questioned.
According to Mr. Boakye-Danquah, these are important issues that must be carefully considered before any compensation programme is introduced.
“Personally, I do not think compensation on that scale is feasible. Even if compensation measures were introduced, I do not believe South Africa would have the resources to meet all such claims,” he stated.
He argued that the conversation should begin with respect for human dignity rather than financial compensation.
“That is why I speak about dignity. The starting point should be respect for the dignity of every individual. Once South Africans recognise and uphold that dignity, then we can begin a meaningful conversation,” he said.
The former government spokesperson also called for stronger diplomatic engagement on the issue, urging African leaders and institutions, including the African Union, to take a more proactive stance against xenophobic violence.
He noted that African countries must use diplomatic channels to address the situation before it escalates further.
Touching on calls for action against South African companies operating in Ghana, Mr. Boakye-Danquah cautioned against targeting companies such as MTN and Gold Fields because of actions taking place in South Africa.
He argued that these multinational companies contribute to Ghana’s economy and should be treated as separate entities. Therefore, they should not be punished for incidents occurring in their countries of origin.
He maintained that rather than revoking licences or taking punitive actions, Ghana should use the opportunity to negotiate better benefits for its citizens, including improved services, employment opportunities and stronger corporate social responsibility commitments.
Mr. Boakye-Danquah further stressed that mining and telecommunications companies operating in Ghana must be held accountable for delivering value to local communities, while government regulators ensure that they meet their obligations.
His comments come amid renewed discussions on the plight of Ghanaians and other African nationals who have suffered losses during xenophobic attacks in South Africa, following indications by South African authorities that compensation for some victims is under consideration.
Director of Field Operations of the United Party, Hopeson Adorye, also urged South African companies operating in Ghana to support efforts to rebuild the lives of Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
