Ghana’s government has confirmed a brief delay in the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa following recent xenophobic violence reported in parts of the country.
In a statement released on May 21 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials indicated that the evacuation exercise initially set to begin on Thursday, May 21 has been pushed back by a few days to allow the completion of essential logistical arrangements and legal clearances required for the operation.
More than 800 Ghanaian nationals currently living in South Africa have reportedly registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, seeking assistance to return home amid growing safety concerns linked to the latest incidents targeting foreign communities.
The ministry explained that the number of people involved, along with aviation and regulatory requirements in South Africa, made it necessary to temporarily pause the process to ensure all operational conditions are fully satisfied before flights can proceed.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to provide an update on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, which was scheduled to commence today, 21st May, 2026. The Government of Ghana notes that more than 800 Ghanaians have registered with our High Commission in Pretoria seeking to be evacuated due to the latest wave of xenophobic attacks,” the statement noted.
It added that several administrative and security procedures remain outstanding before the evacuation can be carried out efficiently.
“Considering the numbers involved and the South African legal conditions that have to be met, including mandatory passenger screening, multi-institutional coordination, and flight permits, the planned evacuation has been deferred by a few days to enable our High Commission to meet these evacuation conditions.”