Foreign Affairs Minister, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the church of Pentecost, particularly the South African branch, for housing 500 Ghanaians who were seeking shelter and escaping the violent attacks launched on them by some South African citizens against foreign nationals.

In a Facebook post, the North Tongu Member of Parliament lauded the church’s demonstration of love and compassion for hosting the fleeing Ghanaians for about two months until their evacuation.

“This morning, I called on the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Eric Nyamekye, to convey the appreciation of Government and the good people of Ghana for the outstanding Christ-like demonstration of compassion as demonstrated by the Church’s branches in South Africa. The Pentecost Church in South Africa generously offered its churches as safe havens to accommodate some 500 Ghanaians who fled the latest wave of xenophobic attacks.

“For about two months before being evacuated by the Government of Ghana, these 500 Ghanaians were safely sheltered in the Pentecost branches of Johannesburg, Pretoria West and Kempton Park. The church also provided food and clothing”, the Minister said.

Consequently, he thanked the Church for its goodwill and its “inspiring consistency in providing humanitarian support to Ghanaians in distress abroad, particularly during the Russian-Ukraine conflict and during the covid pandemic”.

While expressing the president’s appreciation to the church.

“On behalf of His Excellency John Mahama, and the Foreign Ministry of Ghana, I conveyed our eternal gratitude to The Church of Pentecost”, he said.

He also added that “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Church of Pentecost have agreed to collaborate more closely to enhance consular assistance for Ghanaians abroad, given that the Church of Pentecost has branches in 210 overseas territories.

Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana will continue with the ongoing evacuations of our nationals from South Africa. So far, more than 1600 Ghanaians have been brought back home safely.

Arrival of the body of a dead Ghanaian from SA following a xenophobic attack

The body of one of the two Ghanaians who lost their lives in the recent violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa has been brought home, with efforts still underway to repatriate the remains of the second victim, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced in a press briefing on Monday, July 27, when he went to the Kotoka International Airport alongside officials from the ministry and security agencies to welcome the evacuees from South Africa.

“We have received the body of one of our compatriots who tragically lost his life in the xenophobic violence in South Africa. The government is fully engaged with the South African authorities to ensure that the second body is returned to Ghana as quickly as possible,” the Minister said.

The minister assured the families of the deceased that the government remains fully engaged with South African authorities to ensure the second body is returned to Ghana as soon as possible.

“Let me assure the families of the deceased that you are not alone. The state stands with you, and we are pursuing all diplomatic and legal avenues to bring closure and justice,” he added.

Meanwhile, so far, more than 1,600 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa and safely arrived in Ghana following the xenophobic attacks, with the latest confirmed arrivals recorded in early August 2026. The evacuation exercise began in May and has continued in multiple phases, supported by both government and humanitarian groups.