I almost died in South Africa – Apostle Eric Nyamekye

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has disclosed that he nearly lost his life while living in South Africa, where he spent about six years.

Apostle Nyamekye said he personally experienced some of the security challenges and criminal activities affecting Ghanaians and other foreign nationals in the country.

He made the disclosure when the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, paid a courtesy call on him at the headquarters of The Church of Pentecost at La in Accra.

Apostle Nyamekye said he was accosted by armed robbers on two occasions, with the second incident posing a serious threat to his life.

“I lived in South Africa for about six years and I suffered a lot from some of these things. I almost died in South Africa. Two times, I was accosted by armed robbers. The last one was too dangerous. When I was leaving South Africa, my luggage was stolen.

“And then recently, I had to rush to South Africa, about a year plus ago, when our national deacon was kidnapped in the midst of an offering and I had to rush to South Africa. I was the right person to go, not because I was a chairman, but because they knew that I have also suffered from some of these things so I needed to go in there and speak.”

He said his experiences in South Africa had given him a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by foreign nationals, particularly amid recent incidents of xenophobic attacks.

South Africa has in recent times recorded incidents of violence targeting foreign nationals, raising concerns among governments and communities across Africa.

Some of the incidents have resulted in the destruction of businesses and property belonging to foreign nationals, as well as threats to their lives and livelihoods.