The Government of Ghana has announced a temporary postponement of the planned evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) said in a statement on May 21 that the evacuation exercise, which was scheduled to begin the same day, has been deferred by a few days to allow for the completion of key logistical and legal arrangements.
According to the Ministry, more than 800 Ghanaians living in South Africa have registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria expressing interest in returning home due to safety concerns linked to the renewed attacks.
The Ministry explained that the scale of the operation, combined with South African aviation and legal requirements, necessitated the delay to ensure proper coordination, including mandatory passenger screening and flight clearance procedures.
It noted that the evacuation will only commence once all institutional and operational requirements have been fully met to guarantee a safe and orderly process.
Authorities assured affected citizens that government remains committed to protecting Ghanaians abroad and is working closely with relevant South African authorities to finalise arrangements.
The decision comes amid growing concern over the safety of foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, prompting several countries to consider precautionary measures for their citizens.
Officials say updates on a revised evacuation date will be communicated in the coming days.
