The mortal remains of Bashiru Isak, the Ghanaian national killed in South Africa in an attack linked to the country’s recent wave of xenophobic violence, have been repatriated to Ghana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
The ministry said Mr. Isak’s body arrived at the Accra International Airport on Tuesday, July 14, at 6:40 p.m. after the Government of Ghana, through its High Commission in Pretoria and with the consent of his family, facilitated its return.
Family members and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the body at the airport before it was transferred to the 37 Military Hospital.
The ministry confirmed that the deceased, who was fatally shot multiple times in Khayelitsha, a suburb of Cape Town, was Bashiru Isak, describing him as “a law-abiding and loving father of three.”
It said the confirmation contradicted “false claims initially made by some South African officials” regarding the victim’s identity.
The government and Mr. Isak’s family have agreed to conduct an independent autopsy after Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria and the family were unable to obtain an autopsy report from South African authorities.
“The Government of Ghana renews its demand for justice. We expect expedited investigations, arrests and prosecution. There must be no room for silence or cover-ups in the gruesome killing of Mr. Isak,” the ministry said in the statement.
It said Mr. Isak would be buried in accordance with Islamic customs after the autopsy is completed.
The ministry added that the government remains committed to pursuing “all appropriate diplomatic and legal avenues” to ensure justice is served, while extending its condolences to Mr. Isak’s parents, wife, children, friends and loved ones.
