More than 800 Ghanaians in South Africa (S.A) have so far registered with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria for evacuation following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in parts of the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the evacuation exercise scheduled to have commenced yesterday, had been deferred by a few days to allow authorities complete the necessary arrangements.
According to the ministry, the postponement became necessary due to the large number of prospective evacuees and legal requirements under South African regulations, including mandatory passenger screening, flight permits and multi-institutional coordination.
It stated that Ghanaian and South African authorities had since agreed on enhanced pre-evacuation procedures to facilitate a smoother and more efficient process.
“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 indicated that senior government officials from both countries remained actively engaged to ensure the safe and orderly return of affected Ghanaians.
It further assured Ghanaian nationals in South Africa that every effort was being made to guarantee their safety and successful repatriation.
“The Government of Ghana assures our nationals in South Africa that best efforts are being pursued to ensure their safe return home,” the statement emphasised.
The ministry commended the affected Ghanaians for their patience and understanding amid the delay and pledged to continue updating the public on developments regarding the evacuation exercise.
The latest development follows renewed concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa after reports of fresh xenophobic attacks in some communities.
Over the years, several African nationals, including Ghanaians, have been victims of xenophobic violence in South Africa, leading to repeated calls for stronger protection measures and diplomatic engagement between African countries.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
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