Jinapor Demands Clarity Over Ghanaian’s Death in South Africa Amid Diplomatic Dispute

The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, is calling for urgent clarity after Ghana and South Africa issued conflicting accounts over the death of a Ghanaian national in Cape Town. 

Speaking on JoyNews’ On on July 2, 2026, Mr. Jinapor described the situation as “deeply disturbing” and said it was unacceptable for two sovereign states to give different versions of the same incident. 

He warned that the disagreement raises serious questions about trust and communication between Accra and Pretoria, adding that the public back-and-forth signals a worrying strain in bilateral relations. “We cannot be in a situation where two sovereign governments have conflicting reports about the death of a Ghanaian citizen in South Africa. That is most unfortunate and very disturbing,” he stated. 

The dispute escalated after South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said Ghana’s version of events was “factually incorrect” and not supported. Mr. Jinapor insists the facts must be established without delay to preserve diplomatic confidence and to ensure justice for the deceased and his family.

By: Anita Oppong Yeboah