The Government of Ghana has temporarily postponed the planned evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks reported in parts of the country.
In a statement issued on May 21 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, authorities announced that the evacuation exercise, initially scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 21, has been delayed for a few days to allow the completion of key logistical and legal processes required for the operation.
According to the ministry, more than 800 Ghanaians living in South Africa have registered with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria, requesting evacuation amid growing fears over the latest wave of attacks targeting foreign nationals.
The ministry explained that the scale of the exercise, together with aviation and legal requirements in South Africa, made the postponement necessary to ensure all conditions are fully met before flights commence.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to provide an update on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, which was scheduled to commence today, 21st May, 2026. The Government of Ghana notes that more than 800 Ghanaians have registered with our High Commission in Pretoria seeking to be evacuated due to the latest wave of xenophobic attacks,” the statement said.
The ministry further noted that several mandatory procedures are still being finalised ahead of the evacuation process.
“Considering the numbers involved and the South African legal conditions that have to be met, including mandatory passenger screening, multi-institutional coordination, and flight permits, the planned evacuation has been deferred by a few days to enable our High Commission to meet these evacuation conditions,” the statement added.
The development comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of African migrants living in South Africa following renewed xenophobic violence in recent weeks.
