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Wednesday, 8 July 2026
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Wednesday, 8 July 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Ronald Lamola

Also known as: Minister Lamola · Mr Lamola

Ronald Lamola — South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, engaged in diplomatic disputes with Ghana over xenophobia and repatriation of nationals.

2026-05-082026-07-08

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. June 2026
  5. 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
  6. Joy Online

    South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has said that nearly 74% of Ghanaians who recently returned home had violated the country’s immigration laws and were subsequently declared undesirable through established legal procedures.

    74% of returned Ghanaians had overstayed visas – South Africa’s Int’l Relations Minister
  7. Joy Online

    South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has said that nearly 74% of Ghanaians who recently returned home had violated the country’s immigration laws and were subsequently declared undesirable through established legal procedures.

    74% of returned Ghanaians had overstayed visas – South Africa’s Int’l Relations Minister
  8. Joy Online

    South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, says the government is still investigating the circumstances surrounding the return of some Ghanaians from South Africa and has not yet reached a decision on compensation for affected traders.

    South Africa says investigations ongoing, no decision yet on compensation for returned Ghanaians
  9. Joy Online

    South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, says the government is still investigating the circumstances surrounding the return of some Ghanaians from South Africa and has not yet reached a decision on compensation for affected traders.

    South Africa says investigations ongoing, no decision yet on compensation for returned Ghanaians
  10. Joy Online

    South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has called for factual reporting on recent xenophobia concerns, urging officials and the public to avoid spreading misinformation that could damage relations between African countries.

    Discussions on xenophobia must be based on verified facts, not rumours – South African Minister
  11. Joy Online

    South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has called for factual reporting on recent xenophobia concerns, urging officials and the public to avoid spreading misinformation that could damage relations between African countries.

    Discussions on xenophobia must be based on verified facts, not rumours – South African Minister
  12. Joy Online

    The public rebuff by South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola on the social media platform X reveals a relationship under immense strain.

    Ghana, South Africa diplomatic collision over xenophobia exposes deep fractures in continental unity
Politics

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

The News

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.

16 hours ago · Joy Online

Yesterday

  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.

    16 hours ago · 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