Government Receives 87 More Evacuees from South Africa

The Government has received 87 more Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in parts of the country.

The returnees arrived at the Accra International Airport on Monday, as the 11th batch under the second phase of the government’s evacuation exercise.

They were received by the Coordinating Director, Political and Economic, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Harold Agyeman, together with management and staff of the Ministry and other senior government officials.

Welcoming the returnees, Ambassador Agyeman assured them that the government would continue to support their reintegration into their communities and help them rebuild their lives after their difficult experience in South Africa.

He encouraged the returnees to remain hopeful and draw on the skills and experiences they acquired in South Africa to establish themselves and contribute to Ghana’s development.

“Your return is not the end of your journey. It is the beginning of another chapter, and we encourage you to use the skills and experiences you have acquired to rebuild your lives and contribute to the development of Ghana,” he said.

Ambassador Agyeman also called for stronger African solidarity and peaceful coexistence among African peoples, noting that the challenges experienced by the returnees should not weaken the bonds between Ghana and South Africa.

He said Ghanaians and South Africans remained part of the wider African family and urged the returnees to approach their reintegration with confidence and a renewed sense of purpose.

The Ambassador further announced that the government, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, had provided modest support packages to assist the returnees with resettlement and reintegration into their respective communities.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, one of the evacuees expressed gratitude to the Government of Ghana for facilitating their safe return.

The evacuee also commended the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and officials of the Ministry for their support throughout the evacuation process.

“We are grateful to the President, the Foreign Affairs Minister and everyone who worked to bring us home safely. We also appreciate the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria and all the institutions that supported us during this difficult period,” the evacuee said.

The latest arrival brings to about 1,600 the number of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa since the exercise began in May 2026.

The government is expected to receive about 300 more Ghanaian nationals in the coming weeks to complete the second phase of the evacuation exercise.

Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD