By SUNTV Global Channel | May 27, 2026
The first batch of about 300 Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa amid rising xenophobic tensions has safely arrived in Accra, as the Ghanaian government unveiled plans to provide comprehensive support and reintegration packages for the returnees.
The development comes following renewed anti-immigrant protests and attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, sparking concerns across the African continent.
Receiving the evacuees at the airport on Wednesday, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, assured the returning citizens that they would not be treated as refugees or abandoned persons, but as valued nationals deserving honour and dignity.
“You are not going to arrive in Ghana as if you are orphans. You are receiving a hero’s welcome,” Ablakwa declared while addressing the returnees.
According to the minister, Ghana’s government has already approved a special five-point support package aimed at helping the evacuees settle comfortably back into society. Although the full details of the package were not immediately disclosed, Ablakwa emphasized that the initiative reflects Ghana’s commitment to protecting and valuing its citizens wherever they may be.
He further revealed that the country’s Chief of Staff personally expressed interest in welcoming the returnees and would lead a high-powered government delegation at the airport reception.
“We want to show the world that Ghana cherishes its citizens. Our nationals matter to us,” the minister stated.
Ablakwa strongly rejected any notion that the evacuees should be viewed as displaced persons or burdens on the state.
“You are not refugees. You are not destitute. Ghana is not a war zone where we cannot take care of our own. Ghana is a place to be,” he added.
The minister also highlighted Ghana’s growing reputation as one of Africa’s most peaceful and hospitable nations, noting that foreigners continue to enter the country daily because of its welcoming environment and political stability.
Reassuring the returnees of acceptance and respect in their homeland, Ablakwa said the government and people of Ghana would receive them “like royals.”
The arrival of the evacuees has once again drawn attention to recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals and migrant-owned businesses have repeatedly faced attacks, intimidation, and hostility over the years.
African leaders and human rights groups have continued to call for stronger protection of migrants and urgent measures to prevent further violence across the region.
Reporting by SUNTV Global Channel
