Omanghana
The first batch of 130 Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa arrived safely at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra on Wednesday night as the government officially began its emergency repatriation mission following rising xenophobic violence and immigration protests in parts of South Africa.
The chartered evacuation flight touched down at Terminal 3 shortly before 9:00 PM local time, carrying citizens who had fled escalating tensions in Johannesburg and Pretoria, where foreign-owned businesses have reportedly come under attack amid anti-immigration demonstrations.
The evacuees were welcomed on arrival by a government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, together with officials from the Ghana Immigration Service and emergency response personnel.
The returnees also became among the first passengers to pass through the newly upgraded border management systems at Kotoka International Airport, including automated digital check-in processes and advanced 3D luggage scanning technology recently introduced under the government’s airport modernization program.
Authorities said the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria continues to operate emergency consular services to assist citizens still stranded in affected areas. Consular teams are reportedly escorting registered Ghanaians through protest zones and security blockades to ensure their safe transfer to departure terminals ahead of subsequent evacuation flights.
Speaking at the airport, Mr Ablakwa confirmed that the latest arrival marks only the first phase of the rescue operation. He disclosed that additional state-sponsored flights are expected later this week to evacuate all remaining Ghanaian nationals who have requested assistance to return home.
The government launched the emergency evacuation exercise after mounting concerns over the safety of Ghanaians living in South Africa following renewed outbreaks of xenophobic attacks and civil unrest in several major cities.
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Source: Omanghana
