The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has, on behalf of the government, welcomed a second contingent of Ghanaian citizens safely evacuated from South Africa following a recent wave of xenophobic violence.
The evacuees arrived at the Accra International Airport, where they were received by state officials including the sector Minister and his deputy, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and James Gyakye Quayson, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey and the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, medical personnel, and emergency response teams.
Addressing the returnees upon their arrival, Ablakwa commended their resilience in the face of targeted hostility. He conveyed a message of solidarity from President John Dramani Mahama, emphasizing that the administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens abroad.
”Those who were chasing you, attacking you, dehumanizing and depressing you, they could not break you, and that you are even stronger, and you are ready for the challenge ahead,” Ablakwa said. “We have a leader who cares, a leader who is compassionate, a leader who has a heart, and a leader who would never ever abandon his citizens in harm’s way.”
A coordinated multi-agency framework has been deployed to facilitate the smooth reintegration of the returnees. Ablakwa noted that Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has consistently monitored the evacuation timeline to ensure all nationals arrive safely.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service have established an emergency medical and psychosocial unit at the airport. Returnees are currently undergoing vital checks, health screenings, and psychological evaluation to address trauma resulting from the unrest.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Airports Company Limited, and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority are managing the logistics of the reception. The Minister also expressed appreciation to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for providing critical logistical backing during the airlifts.
He praised the diplomatic staff at the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, including the defense and trade attachés, for their efficiency and rapid response in coordinating the evacuation from the epicenter of the violence.
The Minister expressed deep regret over the recurring xenophobic hostility, stating that such actions directly undermine the foundational ideals of Pan-Africanism, continental integration, and the free movement protocols envisioned by the continent’s founding leaders.
”We have been fighting for pan-Africanism, for regional integration, loving each other, ensuring that we are able to have free movement protocols, a borderless Africa, as Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah has labored for, toiled for, sacrificed for,” Ablakwa stated. “Unfortunately, some have set us back, going against all those ideals that Ghana represents.”
While acknowledging that many returnees had suffered severe economic losses, including the destruction and abandonment of businesses, properties, and assets, Ablakwa emphasized that the preservation of life remains the ultimate priority.
He contrasted Ghana’s zero-fatality outcome with reports from other African nations, noting that countries such as Mozambique, Nigeria, and Malawi have reported casualties among their citizens in South Africa.
”Yes, you have lost property, you have lost assets, you have left your businesses behind, you’ve left your shops behind, but nothing comes anywhere near life,” Ablakwa told the returnees, assuring them of ongoing support as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives domestically.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
