The Government of Ghana has announced the final phase of its emergency evacuation programme, with 1,000 more Ghanaian nationals set to return home from South Africa following renewed anti-migrant violence. According to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first evacuation flights are scheduled to arrive in Accra on Sunday and Monday, bringing home citizens who voluntarily registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria.
The latest operation follows the successful repatriation of 926 Ghanaians in earlier phases of the exercise. Authorities said the new evacuation will be carried out in batches, with priority given to women, children, students, the elderly and people with medical conditions. The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind in harm’s way.
The evacuation comes amid a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa. Ghanaian President John Mahama has strongly criticised the violence and urged the African Union (AU) to place the crisis on its agenda, accusing South African authorities of not doing enough to protect migrants from deadly attacks.
In its statement, the Foreign Ministry thanked the Church of Pentecost in Pretoria and Johannesburg, as well as Global Kingdom Investment Pty. Ltd., for providing free shelter to displaced Ghanaians while they awaited evacuation. The ministry also confirmed that the Ghana High Commission has reactivated its emergency consular response to assist citizens who still wish to return home.
The government urged Ghanaians remaining in South Africa to stay calm, avoid areas experiencing unrest and cooperate with officials handling the evacuation process. The repatriation reflects growing concern across Africa over the resurgence of anti-migrant violence, which has displaced thousands of foreign nationals and strained diplomatic relations between several African countries and South Africa.
Post a Comment