By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, July 16, GNA – The mortal remains of Mr Bashiru Isak, the Ghanaian who was fatally shot during xenophobic attacks in South Africa, have been repatriated to Ghana.
Government has renewed its call for justice and pledged to pursue all diplomatic and legal avenues to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Mr Isak’s killing occurred amid a resurgence of anti-immigrant violence in parts of South Africa, where foreign nationals, including West Africans, have increasingly been targeted during protests and community clashes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, confirmed that the deceased, who was shot multiple times in Khayelitsha, a suburb of Cape Town, was indeed Mr Bashiru Isak, describing him as a law-abiding citizen and loving father of three.
It said the confirmation contradicted what it described as false claims initially made by some South African officials regarding the identity of the deceased.
With the consent of the bereaved family, the Government of Ghana, through its High Commission in Pretoria, facilitated the repatriation of Mr Isak’s mortal remains, which arrived at Accra International Airport on Tuesday, July 14, at 1840 hours.
Family members and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the body on arrival before it was transferred to the 37 Military Hospital mortuary.
“The Government of Ghana’s thoughts and prayers continue to be with Mr Isak’s family for their irreplaceable loss,” the Ministry said.
It disclosed that Government and the family of the deceased had agreed to conduct an independent autopsy after efforts by Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria and the family to obtain the official autopsy report from the South African authorities proved unsuccessful.
“The Government of Ghana renews its demand for justice. We expect expedited investigations, arrests and prosecution. There must be no room for silence or cover-ups in the gruesome killing of Mr Isak,” the statement said.
The Ministry said Mr Isak would be buried in accordance with Islamic customs after the independent autopsy.
It reaffirmed Government’s commitment to pursuing all appropriate diplomatic and legal avenues to ensure justice was served and extended its deepest condolences to the deceased’s parents, wife, children, friends and loved ones.
On July 1, the Government of Ghana condemned the killing in the strongest terms after Mr Isak was fatally shot during anti-immigrant demonstrations linked to renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a formal protest with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation and filed a complaint with the South African Police Service, demanding a full, transparent and expedited investigation into the killing.
Government also petitioned the African Union Commission over the resurgence of xenophobic attacks and called on South African authorities to guarantee the safety, dignity and rights of Ghanaians and other foreign nationals living in the country.
The killing occurred amid renewed anti-immigrant violence in parts of South Africa, which prompted the Government of Ghana to undertake a large-scale evacuation of its nationals from the country.
A total of 979 Ghanaians were subsequently repatriated to Ghana in three batches under an emergency exercise coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with other state agencies and international partners.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr Benjamin Anani Quashie, this week announced that the Government of Ghana will begin the final phase of the voluntary repatriation exercise for about 900 Ghanaian nationals in South Africa from July 25, 2026.
The initial 979 returnees received medical screening, psychosocial support, transportation assistance and reintegration packages to help them rebuild their lives, while Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Ghanaians wherever they may be.
GNA
Report by: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]
Edited by: Samuel Osei-Frempong