By P. K. Yankey, GNA
Nkroful (W/R), May 05, GNA – The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called on the leadership of the African Union (AU) to call the South African authorities to act to stop the xenophobic attacks on Ghanaian foreign national or be expelled from the AU.
A statement issued and signed by Comrade Osei Kofi Acquah, the National Communications Director of the CPP and copied to Ghana News Agency said, “it is gradually becoming evident that the xenophobic attacks which has led to looting of black foreign owned businesses, assaults, public humiliation, raping and murdering of other African Nationals in South Africa is becoming a norm.”
The statement said, ” this absurdity which is being led by known people in the South African society, and which has been captured on camera and video is unacceptable in any sense.”
The statement reminded the uneducated South Africans who were perpetuating this crime, to be educated to understand that most of the people they see in their country, were given visas by their embassies around the continent.
They must also be enlightened to understand that the application for those visas cost the applicants and generate revenue for their country.
As a party which championed Pan Africanism and spearheaded the call for African Unity, the CPP raised series of questions such as ” has South Africa become such a lawless state that there is no law and order and respect for lives of other African Nationals?”, “Do these rampaging criminals know that their family members and other nationals are also immigrants in other African countries?”
The CPP also asked whether other African countries nationals had to reciprocate their actions before the law enforcement agencies in South Africa finally took action to halt “this madness” that is going on.
“Where is the Leadership of the African Union and what are they doing about what is happening in South Africa”? the party queried.
The CPP said “this irresponsible behavior by ignorant and illiterate South Africans who don’t know what other African countries did to end the apartheid regime in South Africa must be handled with an iron fist by the South African government to serve as a deterrent as soon as possible.”
In a firm resolution, the CPP cautioned that ” if the African Union is not capable of protecting Africans on African soil particularly South Africa, then we might as well dissolve the AU, for how can there be an African Unity when this is allowed to happen in South Africa”?
The CPP reminded the government of Ghana of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s statement that” the Ghanaian is not timid, far from it, they may be slow to anger and may take time to organize and act. But once they are ready, they strike and strike hard!”
It said the “South African government must be made to understand that the lives of Ghanaians as well as businesses belonging to Ghanaians in their Country must be protected and respected as it is being done in Ghana, if not no one should be blamed for any eventualities.”
To other African countries whose citizens were being dehumanised in South Africa, the CPP said “it is time to be angry, for we have seen and tolerated enough.”
It urged the African Union to give the South African government an ultimatum to end “this madness” and bring all the perpetrators to book and let them know their actions constitute a crime against humanity and bring an end to the atrocities or expel them from the African Union.
The CPP reminded South Africans that ” individually as African countries, we are weak, fragile and poor and that is why our forefathers believed in a United Africa”.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: P.K.Yankey
[email protected]