Ghana Delays Evacuation of Nationals From South Africa Amid Xenophobic Attacks

Edited by: Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah – Paaps – 

The Government of Ghana has postponed the planned evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of the country.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, May 21, 2026, government disclosed that more than 800 Ghanaians have so far registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria seeking evacuation back home.

According to the Ministry, the evacuation exercise, which was expected to commence on Thursday, has been deferred for a few days due to legal and logistical requirements that must be satisfied under South African regulations.

The statement explained that mandatory passenger screening, multi-agency coordination, and flight permit approvals are among the conditions currently being addressed before the evacuation can proceed.
Authorities in both Ghana and South Africa are said to have agreed on enhanced pre-evacuation arrangements aimed at speeding up the process and ensuring the safe return of affected nationals.

The Ministry further noted that senior government officials from both countries remain actively engaged to facilitate the exercise.

Government also assured Ghanaians living in South Africa that every effort is being made to guarantee their safety and successful evacuation.

The Ministry commended affected nationals for their patience and understanding, adding that the public will continue to receive timely updates on developments regarding the exercise.