Home / Crime and Justice / Ghana Repatriates Hundreds Amidst South Africa Xenophobia
Ghana Repatriates Hundreds Amidst South Africa Xenophobia
3 Jun
Summary
- Nearly 300 Ghanaians returned home due to rising safety fears.
- Many returnees lacked legal status in South Africa.
- Ghanaian government assures protection and support for its citizens.
Almost 300 Ghanaian citizens voluntarily returned to Accra from Johannesburg on Wednesday, citing growing safety concerns amid anti-immigrant protests in South Africa. The repatriation process, a joint effort between South African and Ghanaian authorities, aims to assist approximately 800 individuals who wish to leave.
Reports indicate a significant number of the returnees were in the country without proper documentation, with one immigration official noting only 10 of the 300 had legal status. The Ghanaian Embassy facilitated emergency travel certificates, allowing those who had overstayed their visas to return home.
Ghana's foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, welcomed the repatriated citizens, promising psychosocial support and allowances to help them reintegrate. He emphasized the government's commitment to protecting and bringing home any Ghanaian citizen facing hardship abroad, including 26 who were previously detained for visa irregularities.
The departures follow recent anti-immigration protests in South Africa, where foreigners are often scapegoated for high unemployment and crime rates. Migrant-rights groups highlight that these sentiments are worsening the situation for sub-Saharan African nationals, leading to instances of violence and harassment.
