The government spent GH¢49.72 million to evacuate about 1,900 Ghanaians from South Africa following renewed reports of xenophobic attacks, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
The evacuation was carried out in two phases after reports emerged of African migrants facing harassment, intimidation, looting, destruction of property and physical attacks in parts of South Africa.
Speaking at a conference on Monday, September 7, 2026, Ablakwa said the expenditure formed part of the government’s efforts to protect Ghanaians caught in dangerous circumstances outside the country.
According to the minister, GH¢38.84 million was spent directly on the evacuation exercise. The amount covered chartered flights and air tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation and medical care for the returnees.
Another GH¢10.80 million was used to provide reintegration support and transportation allowances to Ghanaians who returned home.
The government also spent GH¢84,274 to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians who died in South Africa.
The latest phase of the evacuation brought approximately 1,000 Ghanaians back to Ghana after they voluntarily registered to return.
It followed an earlier exercise conducted in May and June 2026, during which 979 Ghanaians were evacuated in three batches.
With the completion of the second phase, Ablakwa said the total number of Ghanaians brought back from South Africa had risen to about 1,900.
The government’s support, however, went beyond transportation and evacuation.
Returnees were provided with financial assistance to help them reintegrate into their communities, alongside transportation allowances, medical and psychosocial support and free registration for the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Employment assistance was also made available as part of efforts to help the returnees rebuild their lives after coming back to Ghana.
The evacuation followed growing concerns over the safety of African migrants in South Africa, with the government opting to facilitate the voluntary return of Ghanaians who felt threatened by the situation.
The exercise, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, reflected the government’s responsibility to assist and protect Ghanaian citizens facing serious risks abroad.
