Ghana will resume evacuations from South Africa if lives are threatened – Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed Ghana's readiness to resume evacuations from South Africa if lives are endangered by future attacks, according to an interview on TV3’s The Key Points on October 10, 2026. The Foreign Minister made these remarks amid growing concerns over escalating tensions in South Africa following a recent court decision regarding the rights of asylum seekers.

Ablakwa assured Ghanaians that the government would not rule out bringing home citizens who may require assistance, emphasizing that the completion of the recent evacuation exercise from South Africa did not signify a closure of the door to future evacuations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular and Humanitarian Bureau (COHAB), remains attentive to the situation and welfare of Ghanaians at risk, according to Ablakwa. He noted that the COHAB continues to assess the circumstances surrounding Ghanaians in distress, including any potential deterioration in the security environment that could threaten their safety.

In response to renewed tensions, the minister stressed that the government would intervene if there were further attacks or a worsening of the security situation affecting Ghanaians.

Ablakwa highlighted the ministry's proactive efforts in evacuating citizens from various parts of the world, even after concluding the recent evacuation from South Africa. Since 2025, Ghana has evacuated more than 6,300 nationals from distress situations in countries such as Libya, Myanmar, and Cambodia. He underscored that the Consular and Humanitarian Bureau, along with Ghana's 72 diplomatic missions across the globe, were actively monitoring the welfare of citizens in their respective areas of responsibility.

These missions were expected to keep a close eye on any developments impacting Ghanaians within their jurisdictions and in countries where Ghana also had diplomatic responsibilities.

The Foreign Minister reassured the public that the government would take swift action to bring Ghanaians home if the need arose, emphasizing the Ministry's ongoing commitment to protecting citizens abroad. "If we have to step in and intervene and bring our nationals back home to safety, we will do that swiftly," Ablakwa affirmed.