Get Guardian on GoogleThe Government of Ghana has announced a short delay in the planned evacuation of its citizens from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks affecting foreign nationals.
In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra today, authorities said the evacuation—initially scheduled to begin the same day—has been deferred by a few days to complete required administrative and security procedures.
According to the ministry, more than 800 Ghanaian nationals have registered with the country’s High Commission in Pretoria, requesting evacuation due to the ongoing unrest.
The ministry explained that the delay became necessary due to South African legal and operational requirements, including mandatory passenger screening, inter-agency coordination, and flight clearance approvals.
“Considering the numbers involved and the South African legal conditions that have to be met, including mandatory passenger screening, multi-institutional coordination and flight permits, the planned evacuation has been deferred by a few days,” the statement said.
Ghanaian and South African authorities have reportedly agreed on enhanced pre-evacuation arrangements to speed up the process once flights begin.
The ministry added that senior officials from both countries are actively coordinating efforts to ensure the safe return of affected nationals.
The government assured Ghanaians in South Africa of its commitment to their safety, urging patience as logistical arrangements are finalised.
