Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that Ghana spent GH¢49.72 million to evacuate 1,964 citizens from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks.
The expenditure covered the transportation of evacuees, accommodation, food, medical services, reintegration assistance, and the repatriation of the remains of two Ghanaians who died during the crisis.
Mr. Ablakwa made the disclosure at a media briefing on Monday, September 7, 2026.
According to him, GH¢38.84 million went into the operational aspects of the exercise, including chartered flights and tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation, and medical care.
A further GH¢10.8 million was spent on reintegration and transportation support for the Ghanaians who returned home.
He disclosed that each evacuee received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant, in addition to GH¢500 to assist with transportation costs. This brought the direct financial support provided to each returning Ghanaian to GH¢5,500.
The government also incurred GH¢84,274 in costs associated with bringing home the remains of two Ghanaians who died amid the crisis.
According to the minister, the entire GH¢49.72 million expenditure has been settled, with no outstanding liabilities from the evacuation exercise.
He explained that the government provided GH¢33.72 million of the total amount, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, contributed GH¢16 million.
The Minister expressed appreciation to Mahama for supporting the evacuation effort and contributing to the welfare of the affected Ghanaians.
Ablakwa said the government’s intervention did not end with transporting the affected nationals back to Ghana.
He added that returning evacuees were provided with a range of welfare and reintegration services aimed at helping them recover from the experience and resume their lives.
In addition to providing psychologists and trauma counsellors to assist returnees, the minister revealed that faith-based organisations and civil society groups also provided emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual support.
The returnees additionally received free medical screening through Port Health and were registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme through the National Health Insurance Authority.
Telecommunications companies also provided free SIM cards, together with data and airtime, to support the returnees after their arrival.
Ablakwa said the measures formed part of efforts to ensure that the evacuees received support not only during their journey home but also as they adjusted to life after the crisis.
