Some Ghanaians residing in the United Kingdom are currently unable to leave their homes due to escalating anti-immigration protests.
Over the past week, these demonstrations have turned increasingly violent, with some protesters setting fire to hotels housing asylum seekers.
The protests began late last month, following an anti-immigrant misinformation campaign that incited outrage over a stabbing incident in England, which resulted in the deaths of three children.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service announced on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, that around 100 individuals have been charged in connection with the violent unrest.
Initially, the gatherings were intended as anti-immigration marches but quickly devolved into chaos and violence.
Protesters have targeted locations believed to be housing asylum seekers, including two Holiday Inn hotels in Rotherham, northern England, and Tamworth, in the Midlands.
Kofi Marfo, a UK-based Ghanaian journalist with Rainbow Radio UK, expressed concern over the situation during an interview on JoyNews.
Kofi highlighted the fear among African immigrants, including Ghanaians, who feel threatened by the violent protests.
“They said they’re law-abiding migrants in this country. They do pay or honour their tax obligations and as a result, they don’t see any reason why the actions of one individual committing a heinous criminal activity should affect everyone.
“As migrants and people with Ghanaian visas, we believe in peace and tranquility,” he is quoted to have said.
“They hope this will not get out of hand and will not escalate to a different level,” he added.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
