Government has announced plans to evacuate an initial batch of 300 Ghanaians from South Africa on May 21, 2026, following fresh xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in some parts of the country.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that the evacuation exercise, sanctioned by President John Dramani Mahama, will be fully funded by the state to ensure the safety of affected Ghanaians.
According to the minister, the evacuation will be conducted through the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, with the first group expected to leave South Africa at 5:00 a.m. on the scheduled date.
Mr. Ablakwa stated that the intervention forms part of government’s response after approval was granted on May 12 for the immediate evacuation of citizens caught up in the violence.
He explained that many of the affected Ghanaians had already complied with an earlier advisory from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by registering with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria for assistance and possible evacuation.
The move comes in the wake of renewed xenophobic tensions in South Africa, where foreign nationals and businesses owned by African migrants, including Ghanaians, have once again become targets of violent attacks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that government remains committed to the safety and wellbeing of Ghanaians abroad and will continue to monitor the situation while taking additional measures when necessary.
