The Government of Ghana has completed the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed, indicating that a total of about 1,900 Ghanaians were evacuated.

The Ghanaian government began the exercise following a recent wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Ghanaians.

The Minister, in a Facebook post on Friday, September 4, confirmed the number after welcoming the final group of Ghanaians evacuated from the country.

According to Mr Ablakwa, the second phase of the evacuation exercise covered 1,000 Ghanaians, bringing the total number of citizens evacuated by the government to approximately 1,900.

He said the government had also provided the returnees with various forms of support to facilitate their reintegration into Ghana.

“The Government of Ghana has therefore in total evacuated about 1,900 Ghanaians and provided them with reintegration financial support, transportation allowance, medical care, psychosocial support, free health insurance registration and ongoing employment assistance,” he stated.

Mr Ablakwa said the evacuation and support programme demonstrated the government’s commitment to protecting Ghanaians, regardless of where they are located.

“We achieved this together as Ghanaians. Our message is clear: we value the lives of Ghanaians everywhere in the world, and no Ghanaian will be abandoned in harm’s way,” he said.

He commended President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as “inspirational leadership” in the government’s response to the situation, while also thanking local partners who contributed to the humanitarian exercise.

“I thank President Mahama for his inspirational leadership and all our local partners for their commitment to this worthy humanitarian mission,” Mr Ablakwa added.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also expressed condolences to the families of the four Ghanaians who died during the period of unrest in South Africa.

“We continue to pray with the families of the four Ghanaians who died during this period. May God grant them divine succour,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa further announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will next week present a comprehensive report on the evacuation exercise and account for the resources and measures undertaken.

“Next week the Foreign Ministry shall present a comprehensive report and account fully and transparently to the great people of Ghana,” he stated.

Evacuation history

The evacuation exercise from South Africa unfolded in clear phases. It was originally scheduled to begin on May 21, 2026, but was delayed after the South African government raised concerns about screening, flight clearances, and inter‑agency coordination.

The first actual batch of evacuees arrived on May 27, 2026, when about 300 Ghanaians landed at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. They were welcomed with a relief package that included financial support, transport assistance, reintegration allowances, psychosocial care, and job placement opportunities.

A second batch followed between May 31 and June 2, 2026, bringing in around 410 evacuees. By this time, nearly 1,000 Ghanaians in South Africa had registered for evacuation. Throughout June and July 2026, multiple flights continued, adding hundreds more to the tally.

By late July, cumulative arrivals had crossed 1,200 nationals, with Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pledging oversight and continued support. The latest group arrived on August 21, 2026, with 49 new arrivals, bringing the total number of evacuees to about 1,600 since the exercise began.

When did the attacks start in SA, and why?

News of the xenophobic attacks surfaced after videos of nationals were captured attacking foreign nationals, showing harassment and intimidation of foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, over economic strain, including the over 40% unemployment, housing pressures, misinformation, including reports of foreign nationals taking over SA markets, while groups like Operation Dudula and “Put South Africa First” campaigns openly demand foreigners leave, documented or not.

Is this the first time xenophobic attacks are happening in SA?

The recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners by South AFrican nationas isn'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 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.