Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has dispelled speculations that only one Ghanaian was evacuated from South Africa amid the rising xenophobic attacks on foreigners.

This comes after just one person, a young Ghanaian by the name Sylvester Boakye, missed out on the update on the postponed repatriation exercise and was the only Ghanaian to report at the O.R. Tambo Airport yesterday, according to the Minister.

In a Facebook update on Friday, May 22, he explained that the young fellow didn’t know that the scheduled Thursday, May 21, evacuation had been delayed over “evacuation conditions”.

He indicated that no Ghanaian has yet been airlifted from South Africa, as the government has not yet issued a dispatch plane. According to him, the High Commissioner immediately engaged Mr Boakye and has since met him at the Ghana mission in Pretoria to ensure he is properly integrated into the ongoing evacuation process.

“The young Ghanaian by the name Sylvester Boakye can be assured that he would not be left out of the planned evacuations expected to cover some 800 people. No Ghanaian desirous of returning home would be left behind,” he said.

He explained that the evacuation process was temporarily deferred following an agreement with South African authorities to address legal, technical, and logistical requirements before any flight operations commence.

“Clearly, Mr Sylvester Boakye was not airlifted to Ghana as there was no chartered flight sent by the Government of Ghana due to an agreement with South African authorities to defer the evacuation pending the addressing of legal, technical and logistical matters,” he stated.

He praised the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria for actively tracking affected nationals and coordinating efforts to ensure that no Ghanaian willing to return home is excluded from the evacuation process.

Mr. Ablakwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the safe and orderly repatriation of all registered Ghanaians affected by the situation in South Africa, amid rising public concern and calls for transparency over the exercise.

Earlier, the Ministry confirmed that over eight hundred (800) Ghanaians have registered at their Commission in Pretoria, for voluntary evacuation due to the worsening xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Consequently, “the planned evacuation has been deferred by a few days to enable our High Commission to meet these evacuation conditions”.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to provide an update on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, which was scheduled to commence today, 21 May, 2026. The Government of Ghana notes that more than 800 Ghanaians have registered with our High Commission in Pretoria seeking to be evacuated due to the latest wave of xenophobic attacks. 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, parts of the statement read.

To ensure that all the necessary regulatory requirements are met, an additional day of preparation to ensure a safe and orderly evacuation process.

“Ghanaian and South African authorities have agreed to enhanced and more efficient pre-evacuation modalities to expedite the process”, the Ministry added.

It further noted that senior government officials on both sides remain actively engaged in this important exercise.

The government has assured Ghanaians in South Africa of its commitment to their safety, adding that all necessary steps are being taken to facilitate their return home under secure and humane conditions.

Meanwhile, senior government officials on both sides remain actively engaged in this important exercise.

Authorities also expressed appreciation to affected citizens for their patience and cooperation as final arrangements are concluded.

“The Government of Ghana assures our nationals in South Africa that its best efforts are being pursued to ensure their safe return home. We commend them for their remarkable understanding and patience.

We shall continue to keep the public apprised in a transparent and timely manner consistent with our good governance traditions”, it concluded.

Govt pledges support package for SA repatriates

Before the planned evacuation, the government announced a support package for Ghanaians being evacuated from South Africa.

In a statement shared on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MoFA) official X (formerly Twitter) account on May 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that returnees would receive a welcome-home financial package, transportation assistance to their destinations across Ghana, and a reintegration allowance.

The package also included free psychosocial support for those who may have experienced trauma or violence, as well as counselling and medical assistance to aid their recovery.

In addition, the government indicated that the evacuees would be enrolled in a special database for job and startup opportunities as part of efforts to support their reintegration.

The Ministry described the intervention as part of the government's commitment to protecting the welfare of Ghanaian citizens abroad and assisting them during times of crisis, stating that it valued and cherished all Ghanaian citizens.

The support package was announced ahead of the planned evacuation of the first batch of 300 Ghanaians from South Africa on a special chartered flight. The evacuation had been approved by President John Dramani Mahama after Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Anani Quashie, reported growing fears among Ghanaians living in the country amid renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.

Is this the first time xenophobic attacks have happened in SA?

The recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners by South African nations aren't the first. SA has a history of violent xenophobic attacks dating as far back as 1998.

In 1998, three foreign nationals were killed in Johannesburg. Two years later, seven more were killed in Cape Town.

After a long period of quiet in the attacks, the worst in SA's history happened in 2008 when sixty‑two (62) people lost their lives, 1,700 were injured, and about 100,000 were displaced nationwide, cementing xenophobia as a recurring national crisis.

In 2015, violence flared again after inflammatory remarks by the Zulu King. The unrest spread across the country, forcing the government to deploy the military to restore order.

By 2019, riots erupted in Durban and Johannesburg, with Nigerian‑owned businesses being specifically targeted.

More recently, between 2022 and 2025, smaller but persistent flare‑ups were linked to vigilante movements such as Operation Dudula. These included blocking foreigners from accessing health facilities in Gauteng and KwaZulu‑Natal, reflecting how xenophobia had become embedded in everyday life.