Ghana Evacuates 1,964 From South Africa After Xenophobic Attacks; Govt Spends GHS49.7 Million — Ablakwa

The Government of Ghana has concluded the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa following a renewed wave of xenophobic attacks, at a total cost of GHS49,721,786.00.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), disclosed this at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, September 7, 2026, where he presented a comprehensive report on the exercise.

According to the Minister, the evacuation, which was undertaken on the authority of President John Dramani Mahama, was not budgeted for but was necessary to protect lives. Ghana was the first African country to evacuate its citizens, he said.

The exercise commenced on May 27, 2026 and ended on September 4, 2026, with priority given to vulnerable groups including children, the sick, the aged and women in the first flight.

Four Ghanaians Killed in South Africa

Mr. Ablakwa revealed that four Ghanaians lost their lives as a result of the attacks.

They include 44-year-old father of three, Mr. Bashiru Issahaq, who was murdered on June 30, 2026 in Khayelitsha, Cape Town by anti-immigrant demonstrators; Mr. Kwadwo Antwi, murdered on July 18, 2026 at 1:30am in Prieska, Northern Cape; Mr. Amoonu Jailor Nash, murdered on April 3, 2026 in East London; and Mr. Ebenezer Ayi Tawiah, who was sick but could not access medical care due to harassment by vigilante groups and died on arrival at Kotoka International Airport on August 17, 2026.

The Minister said the identity of Mr. Issahaq was initially disputed by South African authorities but was later confirmed after Ghana’s insistence. He said the Ministry authorised an autopsy after the repatriation of the remains, but the report was inconclusive “because of the state of the body which raised further concerns.”

Government, he said, has formally lodged protests with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, filed complaints with the South African Police Service, and is demanding full, transparent investigations and prosecution of perpetrators.

The remains of two victims – Mr. Amoonu Jailor Nash and Mr. Issahaq – have been repatriated. Mr. Nash’s remains arrived on September 3, 2026 and have been handed over to his family for burial.

Resurgence of Xenophobic Violence

Mr. Ablakwa attributed the attacks to vigilante groups known as “March and March” and “Operation Dudula” operating mainly in the Durban Central Business District in KwaZulu-Natal.

He said members of the groups have been stopping individuals in public places, demanding proof of nationality and immigration status, engaging in “citizen’s arrests” of suspected undocumented migrants and looting shops.

The Minister cited the case of Ghanaian national Mr. Emmanuel Akowuah Asamoah, whose harassment was captured in viral videos, as one of the incidents that triggered national concern.

He said anti-immigration groups had issued public statements calling on foreign nationals to leave South Africa by June 30, 2026, leading to loss of property and lives.

Govt Petitions AU, Secures ECOWAS Backing

At the continental level, Ghana formally petitioned the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on May 6, 2026 to place xenophobic attacks in South Africa on the AU agenda as a matter of urgent continental concern.

Though the 8th AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting where the petition was to be considered was postponed, Mr. Ablakwa said Ghana secured unanimous endorsement from ECOWAS Heads of State to pursue the matter at the AU.

President Mahama also raised the issue with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on July 22, 2026 in Accra. The AU Commission has formally responded that the matter will be tabled for deliberations at the AU Summit in January 2027.

The Minister said he personally spoke to his South African counterpart and summoned the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa in Accra to demand safety assurances for Ghanaians.

Cost Breakdown

Giving the financial details in the interest of transparency and accountability, Mr. Ablakwa said:

– Chartered flights, tickets, ground transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation in South Africa, medical and hospitalisation – GHS 38,835,512.00
– Reintegration and transportation allowance – GHS 10,802,000.00
– Repatriation of 2 mortal remains – GHS 84,274.00
– Total – GHS 49,721,786.00

Of this amount, Government paid GHS 33,721,786.00 while Mr. Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners donated GHS 16,000,000.00. The Minister commended him for his “extraordinary commitment.”

Each evacuee received GHS 5,000 as reintegration grant and GHS 500 as travel and transport allowance.

Other support included free medical screening by Port Health, free NHIS registration, free SIM cards loaded with data and money from AT and Telecel, food packages from NADMO, psychosocial support from IOM, NADMO and Red Cross, and free accommodation in Pretoria, Kempton Park and Johannesburg provided by the Church of Pentecost.

The Minister said there are no outstanding liabilities.

Government is enrolling all evacuees in a special national database to link them to employment, entrepreneurship support, skills development and startup opportunities.

Diaspora Consular Fund and Other Evacuations

Mr. Ablakwa announced that the Ministry will soon launch a Ghanaian Diaspora Consular Fund as a dedicated emergency funding mechanism to swiftly respond to Ghanaians in distress globally.

He revealed that beyond South Africa, the Ministry has repatriated 4,972 Ghanaians since 2025: 3,807 from Libya, 440 from Côte d’Ivoire (QNET victims and demolition exercise), 246 from Nigeria (QNET victims), 244 from Cambodia, 201 from Algeria, 18 from Kuwait, 8 from Sierra Leone, 5 from Mauritius, 2 from Morocco and 1 from Iraq.

62 Ghanaians Dead in Russia-Ukraine War

In a startling revelation, the Minister cautioned against illegal recruitment agencies and human trafficking networks, disclosing that 62 Ghanaians have lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with 15 missing and 2 currently held by Ukrainian authorities as prisoners of war.

He said negotiations for their release are progressing positively and that Government has intensified efforts to clamp down on the criminal networks behind such recruitments.

He thanked the Presidency, National Security, Ghana Airports Company, Ghana Immigration Service, Armed Forces, Police Service, Church of Pentecost, IOM, and airlines including Asky, Air Tanzania, Egypt Air and Ethiopian Airlines for their support.

“Touch one, touch all. Team Ghana is the winner in this entire evacuation exercise,” he said.