First set of Ghanaians being repatriated from South Africa on way home

Ghanaian authorities have commenced the repatriation of the first cohort of 800 citizens who registered to fly home from South Africa on Wednesday morning.

Dozens of buses chartered by the Ghanaian embassy were observed dropping off passengers at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport at approximately 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT). The returnees comprised men, women, and children of all ages. A smaller group also arrived in a police van and was kept segregated from the majority of passengers under strict police surveillance.

Rising tensions spark regional migration crisis

The mass evacuation follows a wave of protests against illegal immigration across major South African cities in recent weeks. The demonstrations have sparked widespread fears of a resurgence in xenophobic violence within the country.

All departing passengers underwent registration by embassy and airport personnel. Ghanaian authorities confirmed that an initial group of 300 individuals would depart on Wednesday morning, whilst the remaining registered citizens were still being screened to depart at a later date.

Economic fallout as traders vow never to return

Although few departing passengers agreed to speak with the media, Rudolph, a salon owner who has resided in South Africa for a decade, stated that the recent protests prompted his decision to leave. He expressed anxiety that a 30 June deadline for illegal immigrants to exit the country, set by a citizen-led immigration reform movement called March and March, could culminate in violence.

There are an estimated 25,000 Ghanaians living in South Africa. Demonstrators argue that undocumented migrants are overstretching public services and have demanded more decisive government intervention.

Ghanaian High Commissioner Benjamin Quashie stated that the administration acted swiftly to ensure the safety of its nationals. He noted that the government responded directly to the plight of citizens who felt their lives were in jeopardy and their economic activities had ground to a halt.