Xenophobic attacks: Ghana spent GH¢49.72m evacuating 1,900 citizens from South Africa

The government of Ghana spent GH¢49.72 million to evacuate 1,900 of its citizens from South Africa due to a surge in xenophobic attacks, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed. The bulk of this fund - GH¢38.84 million - was allocated to various aspects of the evacuation, including chartered flights, air tickets, ground transportation, food, lodging, and medical attention for the evacuees.

An additional GH¢10.80 million was dedicated to reintegration support and transportation allowances, while GH¢84,274 was used for repatriating two deceased bodies. The minister announced that the government had successfully wrapped up the second phase of the evacuation, which brought home around 1,000 Ghanaians who had voluntarily agreed to return.

This phase came after an earlier operation in May and June, where 979 Ghanaians were evacuated in three separate groups, bringing the overall number of people returned to 1,900. In a Facebook post on September 4, Ablakwa stated that the government's actions demonstrated its dedication to safeguarding its citizens in precarious circumstances.

"We achieved this together as Ghanaians. Our message is clear: we value the lives of Ghanaians everywhere in the world, and no Ghanaian will be abandoned in harm’s way," he emphasized. The removal followed a series of incidents involving harassment, intimidation, looting, property destruction, and attacks on African migrants, particularly in Durban and other bustling urban areas.

Ablakwa affirmed that the returned citizens were also provided with reintegration financial assistance, transportation allowances, medical and psychological support, free health insurance registration, and ongoing job aid. He offered condolences to the families of the four Ghanaians who perished during the unrest.