A Ghanaian evacuee who recently returned from South Africa, Grace Asempa, has expressed relief and happiness after her evacuation, describing her return home as a moment of freedom following years of difficult experiences abroad.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, May 30, she said arriving in Ghana had given her a renewed sense of peace after spending about 18 years in South Africa.
“I am very free now,” she said, adding that her return marked the end of a long and challenging chapter of her life.
Ms Asempa explained that she lived and worked in several parts of South Africa, including East London in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo Province and Johannesburg. She noted that her journey in the country began in East London, where she settled and built her life.
She revealed that she established a hairdressing business during her stay and purchased her own salon in East London in 2011.
However, she recounted a traumatic robbery incident that significantly affected her. According to her, armed robbers broke into both her salon and her home, leaving her devastated.
“They broke into my shop. They also came into my house… what got me most was them coming into my house,” she said.
She further disclosed that she believes she may have been incapacitated during the attack, as she later woke up to discover that money, mobile phones and other valuables had been stolen.
“I don’t know what they put on me. I overslept. They took my money, my phone — about three phones,” she recounted.
Despite the challenges she faced, Ms Asempa said she built a life in South Africa and raised part of her family there, noting that one of her children still lives in the country.
Her return forms part of ongoing efforts by the Government of Ghana to evacuate nationals affected by recent developments in South Africa. Authorities have assured that evacuation operations will continue until all affected Ghanaians who wish to return home are safely repatriated.
