The Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, Dr Ishmael Yamson, has condemned xenophobic attacks against African migrants in South Africa, questioning how the country can pursue continental trade while violently rejecting the people who facilitate that trade.

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Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, the economist said the situation in South Africa was a major concern to him, Ghanaians and the government.

He said he confronted the issue during a recent visit to South Africa, where he spoke on African integration and immigration.

“I minced no words. I spoke truth to power, and I told them clearly that even if all the foreigners were to leave South Africa, their problems will still remain.”

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According to Dr Yamson, South Africa’s economic challenges cannot simply be blamed on foreign nationals.

“It’s a matter of state failure. They have badly managed their economy. Even the apartheid government left them an economy better than what they have today. And yet they now turn around and blame foreigners.”

He said Ghana had played a significant role in supporting liberation struggles across the continent, including South Africa’s fight against apartheid.

“When I was growing up, the area from the new Foreign Affairs in Accra, all the way down to now Village, was called Freedom Fighters Village.”

“Nkrumah built that whole area to bring freedom fighters to train in Ghana, people from Zimbabwe, from South Africa, from Uganda, from wherever. Using Ghana’s money.”

Dr Yamson also cited Ghana’s support for South Africa’s corporate sector after apartheid.

📰 Source: Joy Online Ghana