Government spent GH¢49.7m to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa – Ablakwa
The government has spent GH¢49.7 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks and concerns over the safety of Ghanaian nationals, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed. According to the Minister, the government funded GH¢33.7 million of the evacuation cost, while businessman Ibrahim Mahama, through Engineers and Planners,…
The Ghanaian government spent GH¢49.7 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa due to recent xenophobic attacks and safety concerns, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The evacuation cost was funded by the government (GH¢33.7 million) and businessman Ibrahim Mahama's group (GH¢16 million).
The government chose not to retaliate against South Africans, prioritizing African unity and peaceful relations. Since 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repatriated 4,972 Ghanaians from various countries, including 3,807 from Libya, 440 from Côte d'Ivoire, and 246 from Nigeria. The frequent repatriations are straining the government's financial and logistical resources, prompting plans for a Ghanaian Diaspora Consular Fund to provide dedicated emergency financing for Ghanaians in distress abroad.
The Minister also warned against illegal recruitment agencies and human trafficking networks that lure Ghanaians abroad, linking some challenges to these schemes, including involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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