Thursday, May 28, 2026 -The first group of about 300 Ghanaian nationals left South Africa on Wednesday, May 27, as Ghana began a voluntary evacuation programme amid rising anti-immigration tensions in the country.
Families gathered at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International
Airport as officials coordinated the departure process. The move follows
growing protests in parts of South Africa over illegal immigration, with
frustrations linked to unemployment, crime and access to public services.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie,
said even more people than expected showed up for the evacuation, with
additional registrations being processed ahead of another flight scheduled for
Sunday.
Ghana had earlier summoned South Africa’s ambassador over
reported attacks on Ghanaians before announcing plans to evacuate affected
citizens. Migration expert Loren Landau described the evacuation as a symbolic
political message from Ghana to South Africa over concerns about the treatment
of foreign nationals.
Some of those returning were reportedly held at the Lindela
Repatriation Centre over immigration-related issues. More than 800 Ghanaians
have registered for evacuation so far, while Nigerian authorities have also
condemned the reported treatment of some of their citizens and are considering
similar evacuation measures.
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