The government has commended The Church of Pentecost for providing a critical lifeline to more than 500 Ghanaians who fled xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
According to the government, the shelter which homed the returnees for more than two months while they awaited repatriation, was more than a gesture.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who conveyed the appreciation on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the Ministry in a statement said the Church’s intervention helped protect the stranded citizens from further harm.
The Church provided free accommodation, food and clothing for the affected Ghanaians during the period.
Mr Ablakwa said the government subsequently commenced the second phase of a voluntary repatriation exercise following persistent appeals for assistance from stranded citizens.
So far, more than 600 Ghanaians have been evacuated through commercial flights, bringing the total number of citizens repatriated from South Africa since June to more than 1,600.
The minister said more Ghanaians would be evacuated in the coming days before the conclusion of the second phase of the exercise.
For his part, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, called for stronger collaboration between the Church and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support Ghanaians who find themselves in crisis situations abroad.
He said the Church could serve as a first responder, particularly in countries where Ghana did not have a diplomatic mission. Apostle Nyamekye said closer collaboration between the Church and the Ministry would ensure that Ghanaians in distress received timely assistance while government worked to address their challenges
BY TIMES REPORTER
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