A visit meant to strengthen ties between Ghana and South Africa has instead become the latest casualty of a growing diplomatic fallout, after Ghana postponed President Cyril Ramaphosa's planned trip over rising anger linked to anti-migrant protests in South Africa.
Ramaphosa had been scheduled to travel to Ghana during the first week of August in what both countries had hoped would help calm tensions that have built up in recent weeks. Instead, the visit has now been pushed back after fears that his arrival could trigger demonstrations in Ghana.
Government spokesman Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed on Tuesday that Ghana had formally informed South Africa that the visit should be delayed until the situation improves.
"We sent them a communication indicating that it would be best to defer the visit in view of the present climate around xenophobia," he explained.
While Ghana opted to postpone the trip, South Africa maintained that relations between the two countries remain strong and that both governments are committed to working together.
Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya told the BBC that South Africa remains committed to "deepening cooperation" between the "two sister nations" and "advancing the African Agenda".
"The two countries will continue to engage through diplomatic channels to identify a mutually convenient date," he said.
He also disputed Ghana's description of the engagement, saying it was not a state visit but the third round of bilateral discussions between the two countries.
The latest disagreement comes against the backdrop of continued anti-foreigner protests in South Africa that have affected thousands of migrants from across the continent. The situation drew even more attention after a video showing a young Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, being confronted and ordered to "go fix his country" spread widely online.
Since then, Ghana has flown home more than 900 of its citizens from South Africa, while another group of over 900 people is expected to return in the coming weeks.
Other African countries, including Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya, have also been repatriating their citizens following demonstrations against foreigners. Some protest groups had ordered undocumented migrants to leave South Africa by 30 June, with about 25,000 people having been repatriated so far.
Ramaphosa has defended the right to peaceful protest while saying his administration would step up efforts to deal with irregular migration.
The diplomatic dispute became more intense last week after Ghana accused South Africa of failing to protect its citizens following the reported killing of Bahiru Isak, a 40-year-old Ghanaian living in Cape Town's Khayelitsha area. Ghanaian officials said he was killed during anti-immigration protests on 30 June.
South African authorities rejected that account, saying no such killing had taken place. They said the only Ghanaian who died was 35-year-old Kwabena Boagen and maintained that his death was not connected to the protests.
South Africa's justice minister also accused Ghana of spreading "false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration".
Another issue driving the disagreement is the legal status of Ghanaians living in South Africa. Ghana says most of its citizens had valid residency documents, while South Africa disputes that position. Neither side has produced evidence to support its claims.
The matter had already reached the African Union before the latest developments. In May, Ghana petitioned the continental body, calling for action over repeated xenophobic attacks in South Africa and requesting a fact-finding mission, saying the attacks go against the principles of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
Analysts warn that unless the anti-foreigner protests are addressed and diplomatic relations improve, South Africa could face growing political pressure from other African countries.
Xenophobic attacks have remained a recurring challenge in South Africa for years, with some blaming foreign nationals for unemployment and crime. Many Africans, however, continue to point to the support offered by countries across the continent during the struggle against apartheid and South Africa's transition to democracy.