Accra, Ghana// Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deferred the planned evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, which was scheduled to begin on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
In a press release issued in Accra, the Ministry said the postponement was to allow Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria to meet legal and logistical requirements for the exercise.
These include mandatory passenger screening, multi-institutional coordination, and securing flight permits under South African law.
More than 800 Ghanaians have registered with the High Commission for evacuation following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Ghanaian and South African authorities have agreed to enhanced pre-evacuation modalities to make the process faster and more efficient, the Ministry said. Senior officials from both countries remain actively engaged on the matter.
“The Government of Ghana assures our nationals in South Africa that best efforts are being pursued to ensure their safe return home,” the statement read. “We commend them for their remarkable understanding and patience.”
The Ministry added that it will continue to update the public in a transparent and timely manner.
The evacuation was announced in response to renewed xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa. A new date for the exercise will be communicated once the necessary conditions are met.
