Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured that no Ghanaian in South Africa who wishes to return home will be excluded from the government’s planned evacuation exercise.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, May 22, Mr Ablakwa commended Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quarshie, for locating Sylvester Boakye, a Ghanaian who reportedly missed an updated evacuation notice and was the only person to report to O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, May 21.
According to the Minister, Mr Boakye would still be included in the broader evacuation arrangement expected to cover about 800 Ghanaians.
“No Ghanaian desirous of returning home would be left behind,” Mr Ablakwa assured.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also dismissed reports claiming that Mr Boakye had already been flown back to Ghana, describing the reports as false.
He clarified that the Government of Ghana had not dispatched any chartered flight for the evacuation exercise.
According to him, the process had been temporarily postponed following an agreement with South African authorities to address legal, technical and logistical concerns surrounding the operation.
Mr Ablakwa stated that efforts were ongoing to ensure a smooth and coordinated evacuation exercise for all affected Ghanaians.
“Truth stands; and truth always wins,” he added.
