The initial group of Ghanaians flown out of South Africa after fresh xenophobic tensions touched down safely in Accra on Wednesday, May 27, launching a major state-driven push to safeguard nationals trapped in rising overseas unrest.
A government team headed by the Chief of Staff and the Foreign Affairs Minister was at the airport to formally welcome the returnees on arrival. The evacuation was run through Ghana’s mission in South Africa alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after mounting accounts of intimidation, assaults and hostility toward foreigners sparked alarm among migrant groups.
Many who came back are understood to have escaped zones where friction intensified in recent weeks, with several migrants said to have faced harassment, threats and wrecked property. Officials noted that plans were in place to offer short-term aid, counselling and resettlement support to affected persons and families reaching Ghana.
The operation had been set to start on May 21, but authorities had to postpone it after seeing a steep jump in Ghanaians requesting evacuation help. The sudden rise strained logistics, covering travel papers, lodging, transport and flight scheduling, as officials worked to ensure every affected person could be safely flown home.
The latest evacuations have again spotlighted the persistent problem of xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreigners have often been targeted during times of economic strain and social strife.
Over the years, migrants from multiple African states, including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Somalia, Ethiopia and Malawi, have suffered outbreaks of violence tied to anger over joblessness, crime and rivalry for work and business space.Some of the worst xenophobic assaults in South Africa happened in 2008, when dozens died and thousands were displaced.
Similar events reemerged in 2015 and 2019, fueling continental outrage and fresh demands for better protection of African migrants. Though South African officials have repeatedly denounced xenophobic violence and vowed to protect all residents irrespective of origin, anxiety remains among migrant groups who say they stay exposed during unrest.The arrival of the evacuees in Accra highlights deepening worries over the security and wellbeing of Ghanaians abroad, especially in nations facing social turmoil and anti-foreigner sentiment. Government officials say more evacuations could follow as authorities keep tracking developments in South Africa and liaise with affected Ghanaian communities via diplomatic routes.
