Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has assured Ghanaians that the government is ready to organise further evacuations from South Africa should the security situation worsen. According to him, Ghana's diplomatic mission in Pretoria has submitted a report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing conditions in the country as deeply concerning amid persistent anti-immigrant sentiments and renewed fears over attacks against foreign nationals.
The minister indicated that recent developments in South Africa were partly associated with a ruling by the country's highest court concerning asylum seekers. He emphasised that the government is continuing to monitor the wider security environment and its implications for Ghanaians living in South Africa. The Ministry's Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau is closely assessing developments and monitoring the welfare of Ghanaian citizens who might require assistance or protection.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that the government has not ruled out another evacuation exercise and will respond if renewed violence threatens the safety of Ghanaian nationals. He explained that the conclusion of the previous evacuation operation should not be interpreted as a permanent withdrawal of government assistance. The government, he said, will act to protect its citizens if the situation worsens and additional Ghanaians require urgent intervention.
Since last year, Ghana's 72 diplomatic missions around the world have been actively monitoring the circumstances of citizens in their respective host countries and have overseen the evacuation of more than 6,300 Ghanaians from distress situations across various countries. Those operations included the repatriation of citizens from Libya, Myanmar, and Cambodia, alongside the recent exercise in South Africa, which resulted in the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaian nationals.
The minister disclosed that the African Union has responded to Ghana's petition over attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa and indicated that the matter would be discussed at its next summit in January 2027. He declined to discuss the latest developments in detail, explaining that he did not wish to prejudice deliberations expected to take place during the forthcoming summit.
Mr Ablakwa urged the South African authorities to strengthen measures aimed at preventing further attacks against migrants and other foreign residents. He stressed the importance of ensuring that people living in the country, regardless of their nationality, can enjoy adequate protection and security without being exposed to violence because of their origins.
The government's position, Mr Ablakwa said, remains that the safety of Ghanaian citizens abroad is a priority and that diplomatic engagement, monitoring, and emergency intervention will continue whenever circumstances require them. The government will continue to take steps to protect its citizens and ensure their safety in countries where they may be at risk.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government is prepared to organise further evacuations from South Africa if the security situation worsens.
- More than 6,300 Ghanaians have been evacuated from distress situations across various countries since last year.
- The African Union will discuss the matter of attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa at its next summit in January 2027.
