South Africa’s reputation as Africa’s preferred destination for conferences, business meetings and labour exchanges has suffered another blow after the Trades Union Congress (TUC)-Ghana announced it will no longer attend seminars, workshops or conferences held in the country over persistent xenophobic attacks against African migrants.
The unprecedented move by one of Africa’s oldest trade union centres goes beyond an institutional boycott. The TUC is also urging Ghanaian workers and the wider public to avoid all non-essential travel to South Africa, while advising Ghanaians already living there to remain vigilant and leave the country whenever possible.
The decision represents one of the strongest responses yet by a major Ghanaian institution to South Africa’s recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence, raising fresh concerns about the country’s ability to retain its position as a regional hub for business events, professional exchanges and continental cooperation.
The Congress said neither it nor any of its affiliated unions would participate in seminars, workshops or conferences organised in South Africa until conditions improve. It also appealed to all its partners to take note of the decision.
For Ghanaians currently living and working in South Africa, the TUC advised heightened caution, urging them to stay indoors where possible, avoid crowded public places and consider returning home as soon as circumstances permit.
According to the TUC, the latest measures became necessary following another surge in xenophobic violence, intimidation and the destruction of businesses owned by fellow Africans.
It said the repeated attacks have revived painful memories of earlier waves of violence that claimed lives, destroyed livelihoods and weakened the spirit of African solidarity that underpins regional integration.
The Congress argued that the attacks have evolved from isolated incidents into a systemic challenge that continues to threaten African migrants living and working in South Africa.
The TUC said it had deliberately refrained from publicly criticising South Africa in previous years because of its longstanding relationship with the country’s labour movement.
As one of Africa’s oldest trade union centres and a founding member of the trilateral alliance with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Congress of South African Trade Unions, it said it had exhausted internal channels before deciding to make its concerns public.
The Congress also criticised the South African government, saying it no longer believes the administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa is willing or capable of addressing both the immediate and underlying causes of recurring xenophobic attacks against African migrants.
Beyond organised labour, the boycott carries broader economic implications. South Africa has long positioned itself as one of the continent’s leading hosts of conferences, corporate meetings, professional training programmes and regional policy forums. A withdrawal by organised labour bodies from across Africa could reduce participation in such events while increasing pressure on authorities to restore confidence among African visitors.
The development also highlights the wider economic cost of persistent xenophobic violence. As African countries seek to deepen trade and labour mobility under the African Continental Free Trade Area, concerns over the safety of workers, entrepreneurs and professionals risk undermining the free movement of people that supports regional commerce and investment.
The TUC said its position would remain in force while it continues to monitor developments, insisting that the safety and dignity of African workers and businesses must take precedence over institutional engagements.
