S.A. evacuation: Nobody slept in a bus; it cannot be true – High Commissioner

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, has debunked allegations that some evacuated Ghanaians slept in buses before boarding their flights. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Mr Quashie insisted that accommodations were arranged for them in hotels. He addressed the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians, asserting that every individual was provided with hotel accommodations before boarding their chartered flights.

Quashie clarified that no one stayed in buses, as the evacuees were brought from provinces like the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and even East London, and transported to Pretoria in buses paid for by the mission. He explained that this arrangement was designed to save costs while ensuring evacuees arrived in Pretoria in time for their flights, allowing them a day to rest and refresh in hotels before departure.

Quashie challenged anyone claiming to have slept in a bus to come forward, acknowledging that those traveling longer distances from regions like the Northern Cape or Cape Town might naturally sleep during their lengthy bus rides.