Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has defended the government’s decision to swiftly evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks, saying the safety of citizens abroad will remain a priority whenever their lives or security are threatened.
“When you touch one Ghanaian, you touch all of us,” Ablakwa said, describing the statement as the guiding principle behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ efforts to protect Ghanaians outside the country.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on October 10, 2026, the minister said the government’s response to the latest unrest marked a significant change from previous incidents, when Ghana had not acted as quickly to bring affected citizens home.
“There have been many waves of these xenophobic attacks, but this was the first time that the government of Ghana had acted so swiftly to take our citizens out of harm’s way,” he said.
Ablakwa explained that the evacuation was organised for Ghanaians who felt unsafe, had been attacked or had fled their homes because of the violence. Some affected people sought shelter at Ghana’s diplomatic mission in South Africa and at the Church of Pentecost.
The minister said the government’s priority was to ensure that those who wanted to return home could do so safely.
“What we did was to make sure that every Ghanaian who felt unsafe, who was under attack, who had fled, and who sought refuge in our mission and in the Church of Pentecost had been brought back home safely,” he stated.
According to Ablakwa, Ghana was the first country to evacuate its citizens during the crisis. He clarified that the exercise covered Ghanaians who had voluntarily registered with the government to return home.
He said the operation demonstrated the government’s commitment to its consular responsibilities, particularly when citizens abroad face threats to their safety.
“We take our consular responsibilities very seriously, and our motto at the Ministry when it comes to these matters is that ‘when you touch one Ghanaian, you touch all of us,’” he said.
“Any attack on a Ghanaian anywhere in the world is an attack on all of us, and we will immediately mobilize and get our citizens out of harm’s way,” he added.
The minister’s comments reinforce the government’s position that protecting Ghanaians does not end at the country’s borders. His defence of the evacuation also highlights the role of diplomatic missions in assisting citizens during periods of unrest and helping those who wish to return home safely.
