Government commends Church of Pentecost for sheltering 500 Ghanaians in South Africa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has praised The Church of Pentecost for sheltering and supporting around 500 Ghanaians who were forced to flee xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The minister conveyed this appreciation to Apostle Dr Eric Nyamekye, the church's chairman, during a meeting. The church's branches in Johannesburg, Pretoria West and Kempton Park sheltered these Ghanaians for about two months before their evacuation, providing them with essential provisions like food and clothing.

The government expressed deep gratitude to the church for its timely intervention during the difficult situation. Apart from this, the church has long been a consistent source of humanitarian aid for Ghanaians in distress abroad, even during challenging times like the Russian-Ukraine conflict and the COVID pandemic. The ministry and the church have also agreed to strengthen cooperation on consular assistance for Ghanaians living overseas, given the church's presence in 210 foreign territories.

Currently, over 1,600 Ghanaians have been safely repatriated from South Africa. The minister paid a visit to the church to express heartfelt gratitude for the compassionate actions demonstrated by the church's branches in South Africa.