The government is set to begin another round of evacuation of Ghanaians stranded in South Africa on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following the registration of nearly 900 citizens who have voluntarily opted to return home.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, announced the exercise in a video message from Pretoria on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, explaining that the move follows previous successful repatriation efforts undertaken after xenophobic attacks left several Ghanaians stranded in churches, hotels, and with friends and relatives across the country.
According to Mr Quashie, the latest evacuation is being supported by the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President.
“As a government that cares, the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instituted us into having an evacuation for Ghanaians who voluntarily want to go home. We have almost 926 that have gone home,” he said.
He added that arrangements had been made to repatriate another batch of close to 900 Ghanaians who have registered and expressed interest in returning home.
The High Commissioner noted that the South African Department of Home Affairs and border management authorities have approved July 25 as the commencement date for the exercise.
He said the process will follow the same arrangements used in the previous three evacuation exercises, with officials visiting churches, hotels, and other locations where affected Ghanaians are currently staying to coordinate their movement.
“We’ll be coming to the churches, we’ll be speaking to you, we’ll be going to the hotels, and we want us all to do this in a very coordinated way,” he stated.
Mr Quashie stressed that the evacuation will only cover Ghanaians who have already registered and gone through the necessary screening process.
“We are not doing new registrations yet. We are going according to those who have been registered and screened,” he cautioned.
He explained that flights will operate daily from July 25 until all registered persons have been transported back to Ghana, with groups receiving prior notification on their departure schedules.
The High Commissioner further disclosed that the July exercise will bring an end to the government’s mass repatriation programme.
“When we do this 900, let me inform all of us that that will be the number at which we’re done with the repatriation. It will then be on a case-by-case basis through consular services,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians in South Africa to follow the approved procedures and avoid arriving at the High Commission unannounced with luggage seeking accommodation or evacuation.
Mr Quashie encouraged affected persons to cooperate with officials to ensure a smooth and orderly repatriation process.