Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa signals possible evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa

Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that Ghana is prepared to evacuate more of its citizens from South Africa if the current security situation and anti-immigrant sentiment continue to deteriorate. Speaking in a television interview on October 10, 2026, the Minister described the conditions facing foreign nationals as "dire." He linked the recent surge in tensions to a court ruling concerning asylum seekers, which has aggravated host communities and threatened the safety of the Ghanaian diaspora.

The Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry is actively monitoring the welfare of Ghanaians residing in South Africa to determine when further intervention may be required. This follows the recent successful evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaian citizens from the region. Mr. Ablakwa highlighted that these efforts are part of a broader government policy on citizen protection, noting that the ministry has overseen the evacuation of more than 6,300 Ghanaians from various distress situations globally since last year.

In addition to operational readiness, the Ghanaian government has escalated the issue to the continental level by submitting a formal petition to the African Union (AU). Mr. Ablakwa confirmed that the AU has acknowledged the petition and the matter is scheduled for discussion during the union's upcoming summit in January 2027. The Minister emphasized that while Ghana is prepared to act, the primary responsibility for the safety of foreign nationals lies with the host nation, and he urged South African authorities to implement more robust measures to prevent violence.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to receive regular updates from its diplomatic missions in South Africa as it weighs the necessity of further state-sponsored flights. The government’s proactive stance reflects an increasing focus on the security of the Ghanaian diaspora when regional instability or xenophobic violence threatens their lives and livelihoods abroad.