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Sunday, 23 August 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Ronald Lamola

Also known as: Minister Lamola · Mr Lamola

South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, defending the country's immigration enforcement amid xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals.

2026-05-082026-08-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. August 2026
  2. Joy Online

    Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola said that his department had submitted a recommendation to parliament and the president’s office for new protocols for former heads of state during foreign trips.

    South Africa plans new rules on ex-leaders’ foreign trips after Zuma’s visit to India
  3. Joy Online

    Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola said that his department had submitted a recommendation to parliament and the president’s office for new protocols for former heads of state during foreign trips.

    South Africa plans new rules on ex-leaders’ foreign trips after Zuma’s visit to India
  4. Joy Online

    igerian authorities. “We have records of Nigerians who have legitimate papers to remain in South Africa, yet they have been attacked,” Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye said during a recent meeting with South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola

    I left my wife and twins behind – why this Nigerian man fled South Africa
  5. July 2026
  6. Joy Online

    South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has rejected allegations by Ghanaian nationals over South Africa’s treatment of foreign migrants, saying the country has the “sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws” while condemning isolated

    ‘South Africa has a sovereign right’ – Pretoria pushes back against ICC, AU petitions over migrant crackdown
  7. Joy Online

    He added that the AU Commission Chairperson had reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment during a recent meeting with President John Dramani Mahama and disclosed that engagements had been held with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola on the

    Ablakwa announces GH¢5,500 support package for South Africa evacuees
  8. Joy Online

    The ‌comments came during talks in Abuja between Nigerian officials and a South African delegation led by Special Envoy and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola.

    Nigeria tells South Africa to curb xenophobic attacks on migrants, questions state response
  9. Joy Online

    President John Dramani Mahama has held talks with Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Special Envoy of President Cyril Ramaphosa, on the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    Xenophobia attacks: Mahama holds talks with Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy
  10. Joy Online

    Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, July 7, Mr Asafo Adjei expressed concern over the public disagreement between Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and his South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, following reports that a Ghanaian national die

    Ghana, South Africa must resolve tensions through diplomacy, not social media exchanges – Asafo Adjei
  11. Joy Online

    South Africa will launch an investigation into the meeting, international relations minister Ronald Lamola said.

    Zuma showing South Africa ‘middle finger’ by meeting Gupta brother – Minister
  12. June 2026
  13. Joy Online

    South Africa’s Border Management Authority found that only about 10% of the first group of 300 had correct papers, and the international relations minister, Ronald Lamola, said most of those flown out had broken immigration law rather than fled persecution.

    Ghana repatriates over 5,000 stranded citizens since COVID-19 pandemic – JoyNews Research

Thursday 6 August

  1. South Africa seeks new rules on former leaders' foreign trips

    South Africa's foreign minister is recommending new rules and greater transparency for former heads of state undertaking foreign travel, following an uproar over ex-President Jacob Zuma's recent visit to India where he met Ajay Gupta, one of the businessmen allegedly central to a corruption scandal that contributed to Zuma's downfall.

    6 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 5 August

  1. South Africa plans rules for former leaders' foreign trips

    South Africa's foreign minister is pushing for new rules and transparency requirements on former heads of state making foreign trips, following ex-President Jacob Zuma's controversial visit to India where he met businessman Ajay Gupta, allegedly at the centre of a state capture scandal.

    5 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Nigerian migrant flees South Africa amid anti-migrant protests

    A 47-year-old Nigerian man left his wife, twin children, and business behind in Johannesburg and took a voluntary repatriation flight to Nigeria in June, citing harassment and fear for his safety as anti-migrant protests intensified. Tens of thousands of foreigners have left South Africa over the past two months, fuelling diplomatic tensions with other African nations.

    4 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 31 July

  1. South Africa defends immigration enforcement amid migrant crackdown complaints

    South African Minister Ronald Lamola rejected allegations over the country's treatment of foreign migrants, asserting South Africa's sovereign right to enforce immigration laws while condemning isolated acts of violence. He noted that 82 people have been arrested for looting and vandalism, stating that authorities have the situation under control.

    31 July 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Government announces GH¢5,500 support for South Africa evacuees

    Ghana's government has announced a GH¢5,500 support package for Ghanaian evacuees returning from South Africa, comprising a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant, GH¢500 travel allowance, relief items, and NHIS registration. The two-phase evacuation exercise is expected to bring home nearly 2,000 Ghanaians, with the first phase having brought 926 returnees and the second phase expected to facilitate the return of about 1,000 more.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Nigeria urges South Africa to prevent xenophobic attacks on migrants

    Nigeria called on South Africa to do more to prevent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants, saying repeated violence was straining ties and raising questions about government complicity. Nigerian officials said at least 1,490 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa since the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence, and at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in such attacks since 2022.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 24 July

  1. Mahama meets South African envoy over xenophobic attacks

    President John Dramani Mahama held talks with Ronald Lamola, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Special Envoy of President Cyril Ramaphosa, regarding recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Mahama said Ghana had submitted a petition to the African Union Commission over the attacks and stressed the importance of addressing the issue at the continental level rather than avoiding it.

    24 July 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 7 July

  1. Ghana, South Africa should resolve tensions via diplomacy, not social media

    Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Nana Asafo Adjei has urged Ghana and South Africa to resolve their diplomatic differences through established channels rather than public social media exchanges, following tensions over xenophobic attacks in South Africa targeting foreign nationals including Ghanaians. He expressed concern over public disagreement between Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and South African counterpart Ronald Lamola on social media, arguing such sensitive matters are best handled through direct diplomatic engagement.

    7 July 2026 · Joy Online

Sunday 5 July

  1. Zuma meets Gupta brother, sparking South African government backlash

    A photograph of former South African President Jacob Zuma meeting Ajay Gupta at an Indian temple prompted Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to say Zuma was "showing the middle finger" to South Africans. The Gupta brothers were accused a decade ago of profiting from close ties to Zuma and influencing policy; they left South Africa in 2018 amid a judicial commission investigating alleged state capture.

    5 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 12 June

  1. Ghana repatriates over 5,000 stranded citizens since COVID-19

    Ghana has repatriated more than 5,000 stranded citizens from around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began, most recently bringing home 327 nationals from Côte d'Ivoire whose homes were destroyed in a demolition exercise. The repatriations follow earlier evacuations from countries including South Africa and the United Kingdom, with contributions from the International Organisation for Migration's voluntary return programme.

    12 June 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 10 June

  1. South Africa minister: 74% of returned Ghanaians overstayed visas

    South Africa's Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said nearly 74% of Ghanaians who recently returned home had overstayed their visas and were declared undesirable through established legal procedures, though he stressed the government remains committed to protecting all persons within its borders, including Ghanaian nationals.

    10 June 2026 · Joy Online

  2. 74% of returned Ghanaians overstayed visas, South Africa says

    South Africa's Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said nearly 74% of Ghanaians who recently returned home had overstayed their visas and were declared undesirable through legal procedures. He noted that despite immigration breaches, the South African government remains committed to protecting all persons within its borders, including Ghanaian nationals.

    10 June 2026 · Joy Online

  3. South Africa investigating returns, not yet deciding on compensation

    South Africa's Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola says the government is still investigating circumstances surrounding the return of Ghanaians and has not yet decided on compensation. He stated authorities are examining how incidents occurred and who may be responsible, and that it would be premature to make pronouncements on compensation while investigations are ongoing.

    10 June 2026 · Joy Online

  4. South Africa investigating return of Ghanaians, postpones compensation decision

    South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said the government is still investigating the circumstances of returned Ghanaians' departure and has not yet decided on compensation. He noted that many affected individuals had already been declared undesirable in South Africa due to immigration violations, and said each case would be handled on its merits.

    10 June 2026 · Joy Online

  5. South African minister calls for factual reporting on xenophobia

    South Africa's Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has urged officials and the public to base discussions on xenophobia on verified facts rather than misinformation, stating that authorities have verified only two deaths from recent incidents, contrary to reports claiming multiple Nigerian and Mozambican fatalities.

    10 June 2026 · Joy Online

  6. SA minister urges factual reporting on xenophobic violence incidents

    South Africa's Minister for International Relations Ronald Lamola called for verified facts rather than misinformation in reporting on xenophobia concerns, saying authorities have confirmed only two deaths while rejecting claims of two Nigerians and five Mozambicans killed.

    10 June 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 8 June

  1. Ghana, South Africa in diplomatic dispute over xenophobia repatriation

    Ghana and South Africa are engaged in a public diplomatic dispute after Ghana's embassy released video footage of evacuees aboard an aircraft. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola accused Ghana of "incomplete information and outright misinformation devoid of any diplomatic decorum," citing concerns that high-profile repatriation media campaigns distort regional migration realities and inflame local tensions.

    8 June 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 6 June

  1. South Africa warns Ghana against "spectacles" in citizen evacuation

    South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola rebuked Ghana for what he called "public spectacles" and incomplete information during the repatriation of Ghanaian citizens fleeing xenophobic violence, saying his country will not tolerate such conduct. Ghana has organised evacuation flights for hundreds of its nationals in response to anti-immigrant protests and violence.

    6 June 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 8 May

  1. Tinubu orders Nigerian missions in South Africa to establish crisis unit

    Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate establishment of a crisis notification unit within Nigerian diplomatic missions in South Africa in response to escalating xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner tensions targeting African nationals. Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the measure following discussions with her South African counterpart, and the government has advised Nigerian citizens in high-tension areas like Durban to temporarily shut their businesses and remain indoors.

    8 May 2026 · Joy Online

  2. South Africa denies fake xenophobic attack videos, Ghana seeks AU intervention

    The South African government formally condemned the spread of digital content depicting alleged attacks on foreign nationals, characterizing them as "fake videos and images" intended to undermine the country's international reputation. Ghana has petitioned the African Union to intervene, describing the situation as a serious risk to the safety of Africans in South Africa and a challenge to African solidarity.

    8 May 2026 · Joy Online

Ronald Lamola — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute