South Africa evacuation: Reintegration allowance a first in Ghana’s history – Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that the reintegration allowances paid to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa are unprecedented in the country's history. Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile, Ablakwa stated that President John Dramani Mahama approved the measure to aid the evacuees in rebuilding their lives.

He explained that the President acknowledged the significant loss these individuals had suffered, as they had left behind years of investments and livelihoods in South Africa. This marked the first time such an evacuation and reintegration allowance had been implemented, usually only providing a minimal transportation package. The allowances were intended to facilitate the evacuees' transition back to Ghana and help them re-establish themselves, having left behind their jobs, assets, and savings.

Ablakwa emphasized that the situation was traumatic for the returnees, who had been forced to flee due to the safety of their lives and assets. Between May 27 and September 4, 2026, the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians occurred, following renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The ministry estimated the total cost of the operation at GH¢49,721,786.

On September 18, the ministry submitted a 200-page report in response to a Right to Information request from Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, a deputy ranking member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. The report included evacuees' contact details and signatures.