DAMANGO MP CALLS FOR URGENT MINISTERIAL BRIEFING ON XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Member of Parliament for Damango Constituency, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, who doubles as the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has urged Parliament to receive an immediate update from the Minister for Foreign Affairs on events in South Africa.

He made the request during parliamentary proceedings, asking that the Minister appear before lawmakers as early as tomorrow, May 22, 2026.

Jinapor said the briefing was necessary because a planned parliamentary engagement on the matter had been postponed. He described the developments in South Africa as “unfortunate and very disturbing,” and argued that Parliament could not proceed without timely information from the government.

Addressing the Speaker directly, the Damango MP asked the Majority Leader to facilitate the Minister’s appearance. “Mr. Speaker, my request to the Majority Leader is if he could get the Minister for Foreign Affairs to appear before this House, hopefully tomorrow,” he stated on the floor.

The lawmaker stressed that Parliament should be briefed directly by government rather than rely on secondhand reports. He said an official update would allow members to understand Ghana’s position and consider how the House could respond.

Jinapor explained that a briefing would create the opportunity for MPs to intervene appropriately. “So we can all have the opportunity to intervene,” he said, underscoring the need for lawmakers to be equipped with accurate information before taking any action.

No specific details about the situation in South Africa were provided during the session. The MP did not elaborate on the nature of the incident or the number of Ghanaians affected, and the request focused on securing an official government account.

The Majority Leader did not respond to the request immediately, and Parliament has not yet confirmed whether the Minister for Foreign Affairs will appear before the House on May 22. Jinapor concluded his remarks by thanking the Speaker with hopes that his request will be considered.