The Government of Ghana has begun plans to evacuate nearly 300 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa following renewed anti-foreigner protests and reports of xenophobic attacks in parts of the country. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that President John Dramani Mahama approved the emergency evacuation after affected citizens complied with a government advisory and registered with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria. According to the government, the move is intended to protect the safety and welfare of Ghanaians living in South Africa as tensions surrounding immigration continue to rise.
The development comes amid growing concern across Africa over anti-immigrant demonstrations in several South African cities, where some foreign nationals have reportedly faced intimidation, harassment, and physical assaults. Nigeria has also expressed concern over the situation and called for the protection of African migrants. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected claims that South Africa is a xenophobic nation, insisting that the recent attacks do not represent the values of the government or the majority of citizens. In his weekly national address, Ramaphosa condemned the violence and warned against vigilante actions targeting foreign nationals. He acknowledged public frustration over undocumented migration but stressed that immigration issues must be handled lawfully.
“Undocumented migration places strain on healthcare, housing, and municipal services, particularly in poor communities,” the South African leader stated, while urging authorities to address illegal immigration within the framework of the law. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday ruled that refugees whose asylum applications have been rejected cannot remain in the country while reapplying for asylum. The Department of Home Affairs welcomed the judgment, describing it as a major step toward preventing abuse of the asylum system.
