Evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa postponed

The Government of Ghana has announced a temporary postponement of the planned evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa, following the recent xenophobic attacks in parts of the country.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 21, authorities disclosed that the evacuation exercise, originally scheduled to commence on Thursday, May 21, has been deferred for a few days to enable officials to complete critical logistical and legal requirements necessary for the operation.

According to the ministry, over 800 Ghanaians currently residing in South Africa have registered with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria, expressing their desire to return home due to concerns over the latest wave of attacks targeting foreign nationals.

The ministry explained that the scope of the evacuation operation, coupled with South African legal and aviation requirements, has made it necessary to delay the process briefly to ensure that all conditions are properly met before flights can commence.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to provide an update on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, which was scheduled to commence today, 21st 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,” the statement said.

It further noted that several procedures still need to be completed before the evacuation exercise can begin smoothly.

“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, the planned evacuation has been deferred by a few days to enable our High Commission to meet these evacuation conditions.”