The government has spent GH¢49.7 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks and concerns over the safety of Ghanaian nationals, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
According to the Minister, the government funded GH¢33.7 million of the evacuation cost, while businessman Ibrahim Mahama, through Engineers and Planners, contributed GH¢16 million towards the exercise.
Mr Ablakwa disclosed this while addressing the media in Accra on Monday, September 7, on the government’s evacuation exercise and support provided to returnees.
He said the government chose not to retaliate against actions by some South Africans because of its commitment to African unity and peaceful relations between the two countries.
“Ghana did not want to retaliate to actions of some South Africans, due to the deep thinking of African unity,” he said.
The Minister further disclosed that 4,972 Ghanaians had been repatriated from various countries since 2025 following interventions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghanaian diplomatic missions and international partners.
He said the figure includes 3,807 Ghanaians repatriated from Libya, 440 from Côte d’Ivoire, 246 from Nigeria, 244 from Cambodia, 201 from Algeria, 18 from Kuwait, eight from Sierra Leone, five from Mauritius, two from Morocco and one from Iraq.
Mr Ablakwa said the repeated repatriation exercises were placing a significant financial and logistical burden on the government.
He therefore announced plans for the establishment of a Ghanaian Diaspora Consular Fund to provide a dedicated and sustainable emergency financing mechanism for assisting Ghanaians who find themselves in distress abroad.
According to him, the proposed fund would enable the government to respond more quickly to emergencies and help safeguard the rights, dignity and welfare of Ghanaian citizens overseas.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also cautioned Ghanaians, particularly young people, against illegal recruitment agencies and human trafficking networks that lure unsuspecting persons abroad with promises of better opportunities.
He linked some of the challenges faced by Ghanaians abroad to such recruitment schemes, including the involvement of some Ghanaians in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Mr Ablakwa said 62 Ghanaians had lost their lives in the conflict, while another 15 remained missing.
He added that two Ghanaians were currently being held by Ukrainian authorities as prisoners of war, although negotiations for their release were said to be progressing positively.
The Minister said the government had intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal recruitment agencies and human trafficking networks to prevent further exploitation of Ghanaians seeking opportunities abroad.
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