The Ghanaian Government has announced a delay of several days in the evacuation of more than 800 Ghanaians from South Africa, originally scheduled for May 21, 2026, citing operational and legal constraints linked to South African procedures.
More than 800 Ghanaians had registered with the High Commission in Pretoria for repatriation, following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks.
According to authorities, the postponement was due to the scale of the operation and the legal requirements involved, including mandatory passenger checks, inter-institutional coordination and the securing of flight clearances.
Both governments have agreed on “enhanced and more efficient” pre-evacuation arrangements to speed up the process.
A multi-level diplomatic response
The delay comes amid a broader diplomatic response that has been unfolding for several weeks. As early as May 6, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wrote to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, describing the situation as an “urgent matter of continental concern” and called for it to be placed on the agenda of the 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting scheduled for June 24–27, 2026, in El Alamein, Egypt.
Accra also summoned the acting South African High Commissioner to formally express its concerns and facilitated the repatriation of Ghanaian national, Emmanuel Akowuah Asamoah, who appeared in a viral video linked to the attacks and returned to Accra on May 5 alongside High Commissioner Benjamin Anani Quashie.
Invoking Nkrumah’s legacy
In his letter to the African Union, Ablakwa invoked the legacy of Ghana’s founding leader Kwame Nkrumah, stating that “Africa’s emancipation begins with a collective resolve to ensure that no African is dehumanised on African soil.”
The High Commissioner, Quashie, said South African authorities were working to prevent further incidents, while acknowledging that the situation was “not yet fully normalised.”
The ministry assured its nationals that “every effort is being made to ensure their safe return,” and thanked them for their “understanding and remarkable patience.”
AC/Sf/lb/gik/APA