Ghana’s Ambassador to South Africa, Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has affirmed that all Ghanaian nationals currently being evacuated from the country are law abiding individuals, rejecting any suggestion that the returnees are linked to criminal conduct.
He emphasized that the affected citizens are not departing in an attempt to evade legal responsibility, but are instead responding to escalating insecurity and renewed xenophobic hostility directed at foreign communities in various parts of South Africa.
The development comes in the wake of renewed outbreaks of violence and tension in South Africa, where African migrants have periodically been subjected to attacks and accusations relating to employment competition and economic pressure within local communities. These conditions have contributed to heightened fear among foreign residents.
In response, the Government of Ghana has initiated a coordinated repatriation programme aimed at assisting citizens who have voluntarily expressed the desire to return home due to deteriorating safety conditions. The exercise is being implemented through diplomatic cooperation between both countries.
Approximately 300 Ghanaian nationals are expected to arrive in Accra as part of the first phase of the evacuation arrangement scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, marking the beginning of a broader return process.
Addressing the media in South Africa, Ambassador Quashie reiterated that the returnees are legitimate workers who were engaged in lawful employment but have been adversely affected by tightening immigration enforcement measures and the growing difficulty of continuing their livelihoods under changing regulatory conditions.
He stated firmly that no evacuee is involved in any form of criminal activity, stressing that their presence in South Africa had been based on genuine work opportunities and lawful economic participation prior to the recent disruptions.
He further explained that many of those affected are either undocumented or have encountered challenges maintaining valid work status as immigration enforcement policies have become stricter, making continued residence and employment increasingly difficult.
According to him, the decision to return is therefore largely driven by practical circumstances rather than misconduct, with arrangements being made for reintegration support once they arrive in Ghana.
Ambassador Quashie also highlighted that diplomatic relations between Ghana and South Africa remain stable and cooperative, with both governments actively engaging to manage the repatriation process in an orderly manner.
At the same time, he called for stronger institutional coordination to address irregular migration patterns more effectively and to reduce the likelihood of similar crises in the future.
He additionally urged South African authorities to intensify efforts to curb xenophobic violence, warning that continued attacks on foreign nationals could undermine continental unity and weaken the broader ideals of Pan African solidarity.
