Even if all foreigners leave, South Africa’s problems will remain – Dr Yamson blames state failure

Economist and Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, Dr Ishmael Yamson, has criticized what he describes as state failure as the primary cause of South Africa's economic difficulties. He maintains that even if all foreigners were to leave the country, its problems would persist. Dr Yamson warned that South Africa's decision to blame immigrants for its economic woes was misguided, potentially undermining efforts to deepen African integration and trade.

He expressed concern over the xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa, stating that it was deeply troubling and also troubling to Ghanaians and the Ghanaian government. Dr Yamson had personally raised concerns about this issue during a recent visit to South Africa, where he spoke on African integration and immigration.

He argued that South Africa's economy had been badly managed, even worse than under the apartheid government, yet they now blame foreigners for their economic woes. Dr Yamson also highlighted Ghana's role in supporting African liberation movements, including those in South Africa, during the struggle against apartheid. He recalled Ghana's provision of support and training to freedom fighters from various African countries, including South Africa, and its technical assistance to South Africa after apartheid.

Dr Yamson expressed distress over the current attacks on other Africans in South Africa, contrasting it with Ghana's more measured approach to immigration. He criticized the use of violence to force African migrants out, noting the lack of decency in such actions. Dr Yamson warned that these attacks also exposed a contradiction in Africa's push for deeper economic integration, questioning how the continent could achieve meaningful trade integration while restricting the movement of people. He pointed out that without people, there can be no trade.