The first group of Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa following rising anti-immigrant tensions has departed for Accra, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.
According to officials, about 300 Ghanaians were aboard the first repatriation flight, while hundreds more are expected to leave South Africa in the coming days.
In total, nearly 800 Ghanaians are set to be evacuated after Ghanaian authorities arranged special flights in response to recent protests and violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
An aide to Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Fred Duhoe, confirmed that the flight eventually departed after an initial delay.
“The flight was delayed, but it is now on its way,” he told AFP.
Photos from Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport showed hundreds of Ghanaian nationals gathered with luggage while waiting to board the evacuation flight.
Flight tracking data also confirmed the aircraft took off shortly after 11 a.m. local time.
The Ghana High Commission in South Africa disclosed that the evacuation became necessary following growing concerns over the safety of Ghanaian citizens amid renewed xenophobic attacks.
The Ghanaian government has also promised to provide financial support and psycho-social assistance to citizens returning home to help them reintegrate.
South Africa, regarded as one of Africa’s largest economies, has for years attracted migrants and workers from across the continent.
However, the country has repeatedly witnessed anti-immigrant protests and violent attacks linked to unemployment, poverty, and economic frustration.
South Africa currently faces an unemployment rate of over 30 percent, a situation many analysts say has contributed to rising tensions against foreign nationals.
The latest wave of outrage reportedly intensified after a viral video circulated online allegedly showing a Ghanaian man being assaulted.
The development has once again sparked debates across Africa about xenophobia, migration, and the treatment of African migrants within the continent.
Many Africans online have also questioned the gap between calls for African unity and the realities faced by migrants living in other African countries.
The situation continues to attract international attention as governments monitor the safety of their citizens living in South Africa.
Source: AFP report on Ghanaian evacuation flights from South Africa.
