CAPE TOWN – A diplomatic dispute has erupted between South Africa and Ghana after Ghanaian authorities claimed one of their citizens was killed during anti-migrant protests in Cape Town — a death South African police say never happened.

The clash centres on conflicting accounts of what led to the death of a Ghanaian national in the Western Cape on Monday, 29 June.

Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement claiming a 40-year-old Ghanaian man was shot dead in Khayelitsha during anti-migration demonstrations. However, South African authorities have strongly rejected this version of events.

Police confirmed they are investigating the murder of a Ghanaian national that day, but say the circumstances are completely different to what Ghana has claimed.

The victim has been identified as Kwabena Boagen (35), who was shot at Nyanga Terminus in front of NTG hair salon and shoe repairs at approximately 15:45 on Monday. He was declared dead at the scene by emergency medical services personnel.

According to Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the shooting is believed to be linked to extortion, not protests. Boagen lived in Khayelitsha but worked in Nyanga.

“The South African Police Service bears no record of the Khayelitsha murder,” Potelwa said, adding that police have made “an earnest plea” to Ghanaian authorities to provide details of the alleged Khayelitsha incident so it can be investigated.

A murder docket has been opened and Nyanga detectives are working to apprehend the perpetrators. Police have been in contact with a relative of the deceased and conveyed condolences on behalf of the service. A post-mortem examination is currently being conducted.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, has strongly condemned what she called “factually incorrect” information from Ghana.

“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration,” Kubayi said.

ALSO READ: Three hundred Ghanaians repatriated as xenophobic tensions grip South Africa

She stressed that the man was killed on Monday — a day before the demonstrations took place — and that no fatalities were recorded during the actual protests.

“The fact of the matter is that no fatalities have been recorded during the day of these demonstrations and isolated incidents of criminality that occurred on the day have been acted upon by law enforcement authorities,” the minister said.

Kubayi called on Ghana to address diplomatic matters through established channels rather than public statements.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee said the “spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable”.

Despite the dispute, Kubayi expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and assured them that police will investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions around migration in South Africa and the sensitive nature of diplomatic communications during periods of heightened public concern over irregular migration.

ALSO READ: Acting police minister condemns xenophobic attacks on Ghanaian nationals