Ghana evacuates nearly 1,900 nationals from South Africa since May

Ghana has completed the evacuation of nearly 1,900 citizens who volunteered to leave South Africa after a wave of xenophobic attacks, the Foreign Ministry said.

The final group, 41 people, arrived on Friday. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said Monday that the repatriation operation, which began in May 2026, cost a total of 3.76 million euros.

Most of the spending, about 2.94 million euros, went to charter flights, air tickets, ground transport, food, accommodation and medical care. Reintegration and transport subsidies accounted for about 817,000 euros. Ghana spent another 6,378 euros to bring home the remains of two citizens who died in South Africa.

Each returnee received about 378 euros in reintegration support and 38 euros for transport. The International Organization for Migration, Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization and the Red Cross provided psychosocial support, logistics, hot meals and water.

Tensions remain high in South Africa after attacks and protests initially directed at illegal immigration turned violent against African migrants, causing deaths. Anti-immigration groups blame migrants for economic problems, poor public services and high crime rates, and have blocked some migrants from accessing public health care and education. Official figures compiled from several governments indicate that about 180,000 Africans from countries including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been repatriated.

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Through this operation, which began in May 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs evacuated nearly 1,900 Ghanaian citizens who registered voluntarily for repatriation.