The Government of Ghana spent GH¢49.72 million to evacuate 1,900 Ghanaians from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks that threatened the safety of African migrants, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
The expenditure covered emergency measures to bring affected Ghanaians home and provide support for their return and reintegration after reports of attacks, intimidation, looting and destruction of property in parts of South Africa.
How the GH¢49.72 million was spent
According to Mr Ablakwa, GH¢38.84 million was spent directly on the evacuation exercise.
The expenditure included chartered flights, air tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation and medical care for the Ghanaians who were brought back to Ghana.
A further GH¢10.80 million was used to provide reintegration support and transportation allowances to the returnees.
The government also spent GH¢84,274 to repatriate the mortal remains of two Ghanaians who died during the unrest.
The figures highlight the significant financial cost involved in responding to emergencies affecting Ghanaian nationals living abroad.
1,900 Ghanaians evacuated in two phases
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the government has now completed the second phase of the evacuation, bringing home about 1,000 Ghanaians who had voluntarily registered to return.
This followed an earlier evacuation conducted in May and June 2026, during which 979 Ghanaians were brought back in three batches.
The two exercises brought the total number of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa to approximately 1,900.
Mr Ablakwa said the evacuation demonstrated the government’s commitment to protecting Ghanaian citizens caught in dangerous situations outside the country.
In a statement announcing the completion of the exercise, he said no Ghanaian should be abandoned when their safety is at risk.
Xenophobic attacks triggered evacuation
The evacuation followed reports of renewed xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants in parts of South Africa.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the incidents involved harassment, intimidation, looting, destruction of property and attacks on African migrants, particularly in Durban and other commercial centres.
The developments created security concerns for Ghanaian nationals living and working in affected communities, prompting some citizens to voluntarily register for evacuation.
Xenophobic violence in South Africa has periodically raised concerns among African governments because of its impact on foreign nationals, businesses and regional relations.
For Ghana, the latest evacuation exercise has brought renewed attention to the government’s responsibility to protect citizens abroad while responding to emergencies that require substantial public resources.
Returnees receive reintegration support
The government’s intervention did not end with the evacuation of affected Ghanaians.
Mr Ablakwa said the returnees received financial support for reintegration, transportation allowances, medical and psychosocial assistance, and free health insurance registration.
The government is also providing ongoing employment assistance to help some of those who returned rebuild their livelihoods in Ghana.
Such support is intended to help returnees adjust after leaving their businesses, jobs and other economic activities in South Africa.
Four Ghanaians died during unrest
The evacuation also followed fatalities involving Ghanaian nationals.
Mr Ablakwa expressed condolences to the families of four Ghanaians who died during the unrest, underscoring the human cost of the violence.
While the government has successfully completed the evacuation programme, the deaths have added to concerns about the safety of Ghanaians and other African nationals living in areas affected by xenophobic violence.
Government stresses protection of Ghanaians abroad
The Foreign Affairs Minister’s disclosure of the GH¢49.72 million expenditure provides insight into the financial resources required when Ghana undertakes emergency evacuations of citizens overseas.
Beyond the cost of flights and transportation, the government also had to provide accommodation, food, medical care and post-return support.
The completion of the South Africa evacuation therefore marks the end of a major emergency response involving nearly 1,900 Ghanaian nationals.
The government has maintained that the protection of Ghanaians abroad remains a priority, particularly when citizens face situations that pose serious threats to their lives and property.
