The government of Ghana has announced a short postponement of the planned evacuation of more than 800 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa, originally scheduled for May 21, 2026, citing operational and legal procedures required by South African authorities.
According to officials, over 800 Ghanaians registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria for repatriation following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.
Authorities explained that the delay was linked to the large number of evacuees, mandatory passenger screening, inter-agency coordination, and the need to secure flight authorizations.
Both countries have reportedly agreed on “strengthened and more efficient” pre-evacuation arrangements aimed at accelerating the process.
The postponement comes amid intensified diplomatic engagement by Accra.
On May 6, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa formally wrote to the African Union Commission, describing the violence as an “urgent matter of continental interest” and requesting that it be discussed during the Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union scheduled for June 24–27, 2026, in El Alamein.
Ghana had earlier summoned South Africa’s acting high commissioner to express its concerns and also facilitated the return of Ghanaian national Emmanuel Akowuah Asamoah, whose image circulated widely online in connection with the attacks. He arrived in Accra on May 5 accompanied by Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Anani Quashie.
In his communication to the AU, Ablakwa invoked the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah, stating that “Africa’s emancipation begins with a collective resolution to ensure that no African is dehumanized on African soil.”
The Ghanaian government has assured affected citizens that every effort is being made to ensure their safe return while commending them for their patience and cooperation during the ongoing arrangements.
