By James Amoh Junior
Accra, May 12, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has approved the immediate evacuation of 300 Ghanaians from South Africa following a resurgence of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
The evacuees had registered with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria in response to a prior advisory from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, confirmed the evacuation on social media Tuesday.
“His Excellency John Mahama has granted presidential approval for the immediate evacuation of 300 Ghanaians in South Africa,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa said that the evacuees had complied with the Ministry’s earlier directive to remain vigilant and maintain contact with Ghanaian diplomatic officials.
“These distressed Ghanaians had earlier complied with the Foreign Ministry’s advisory and registered with our High Commission in Pretoria to be rescued following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting Ghanaians both at home and abroad.
“The Government of Ghana shall continue to safeguard the welfare of all Ghanaians home and abroad,” he said.
The decision follows reports of renewed attacks in parts of South Africa targeting West African migrants, which have fueled concern among regional governments and migrant communities.
Earlier, Mr Ablakwa condemned the attacks during the Ghana-Sierra Leone Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation in Accra, describing them as “naked hatred and baseless xenophobia,” and urged South African authorities to protect foreign nationals.
Ghana has engaged the South African Government diplomatically, receiving assurances that investigations would be conducted and measures taken to restore calm.
South Africa has experienced repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence over the years, often linked to unemployment, crime, and economic hardship.
Previous attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, and the destruction of property belonging to foreign nationals.
The South African Government has rejected claims of targeted xenophobic violence against African nationals, stating that while isolated incidents have occurred, authorities acted swiftly to contain them and enforce the law.
Pretoria also denied reports that Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals were killed during recent protests.
Following these developments, Ghana formally requested the African Union Commission to place “Xenophobic Attacks in the Republic of South Africa against African Nationals” on the agenda of the Eighth AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, scheduled for June 24–27, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt.
In the diplomatic letter, Ghana described recurring attacks on African migrants in South Africa as a matter of urgent continental concern, undermining African solidarity and unity, particularly given the continent’s historical support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a statement during South Africa’s Freedom Day on April 27, 2026, condemned xenophobia and urged that concerns over illegal migration not fuel hatred against immigrants.
“We did not walk alone into freedom. We were carried by a tide of solidarity from the nations of Africa,” he said. “South Africa should never trample into the dust the African fellowship that made our freedom possible.”
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, also engaged with Ghanaian and Nigerian officials and African ambassadors in Pretoria to clarify developments.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: James Amoh Junior – [email protected]