Ghana concludes evacuation of citizens from South Africa; total returnees reach 1,900 – Ablakwa

Ghana has completed its evacuation of citizens from South Africa, bringing home a total of 1,900 Ghanaians, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The final phase of the exercise, which targeted 1,000 Ghanaians, has been successfully completed, according to a Facebook post by the minister on September 4. The government has pledged to support the returnees with financial assistance, transportation allowance, medical care, psychosocial support, free health insurance registration, and ongoing employment assistance.

The evacuation effort followed a surge in xenophobic attacks in South Africa, particularly in Durban and other commercial centers, where African migrants, including Ghanaians, faced harassment, intimidation, and violence. Ghana had advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa due to the heightened tensions.

The government, in its response, engaged diplomatically with South African authorities and petitioned the African Union over the attacks, which posed a threat to African unity and regional integration. Ablakwa emphasized the government's commitment to protecting Ghanaians worldwide and expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership.

The government will present a full account of the exercise next week, detailing the reintegration support provided to the returnees.