From victim to entrepreneur: Ibrahim Mahama pledges full support for Ghanaian repatriated from South Africa

In a heartwarming turn of events, Emmanuel Akowuah Asamoah, the Ghanaian national who became a symbol of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, is receiving life-changing support following his dramatic repatriation to Ghana .

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, hosted Mr. Asamoah at the ministry on Friday, describing the meeting as a “joyful” and “encouraging” session focused on rebuilding the victim’s future . The discussions took a monumental turn when Mr. Ablakwa disclosed a significant private sector intervention.

“I am pleased to disclose that business mogul, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, has reached out to me and offered to fully sponsor any business startup of Mr. Asamoah’s choice here in Ghana,” Ablakwa announced . The offer guarantees Mr. Asamoah the financial backing to pursue any entrepreneurial venture, marking a solid shift from trauma to economic independence.

Diplomatic Front and Continental Action

Mr. Asamoah’s ordeal, which saw him harassed by a vigilante group in South Africa despite holding valid residency documents, prompted a strong diplomatic response from Accra . The government facilitated his emergency relocation on May 5, 2026, and the Minister has since escalated the matter to the African Union (AU) .

Ablakwa has formally requested that the ongoing xenophobic violence be placed on the agenda of the AU’s upcoming mid-year meeting in Egypt, invoking the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah to argue that “no African should be dehumanized on African soil” .

A New Beginning

For Mr. Asamoah, who endured threats and the dismissal of his legal documents by attackers, the sponsorship from Mr. Mahama offers a path to stability. “We had a great time together at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Ablakwa noted, emphasizing that the state remains committed to protecting its citizens abroad while the private sector steps in to rebuild lives at home .