On May 27, a plane carrying 300 Ghanaian citizens evacuated from South Africa amid a wave of anti-immigrant protests landed at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. The group, including women and children, was described by Ghanaian authorities as voluntary returnees who no longer felt safe in South Africa due to rising xenophobia, leading to harassment, job losses, and violence.
Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was at the airport to welcome the group. He stated: "Wherever Ghanaians are, we will ensure you are protected."
This is the first repatriation in a plan to bring home about 800 Ghanaians who wish to leave South Africa, following weeks of anti-immigrant protests. Protesters have demanded tighter controls on "illegal immigrants" and accused foreigners of causing crime and unemployment.
South Africa's Border Management Authority said about 90% of those on the May 27 flight lacked valid identification, with a "majority" exceeding visa overstays of more than 30 days and "some" over a year or more. However, Ghana's ambassador to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, criticized backlogs in processing permit renewals by South African authorities.
The wave of xenophobic protests has included violence targeting immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa. One returning Ghanaian told Reuters: "I am happy to come back home… Living in another country and being constantly harassed is not easy." Another, Victor Atsu Togbe, told AFP: "The past weeks in South Africa have never been easy for us. We want to thank the Ghanaian government for taking us out of the lion's den."
Immigrant rights groups argue that foreigners are being scapegoated for South Africa's economic problems, particularly an unemployment rate of over 30%, which hits the black population hardest.
Ambassador Quashie explained that repatriation aims to reduce tensions while maintaining strong diplomatic ties between the two countries. He said: "The demonstrators are saying they want us to cooperate. We must ensure those without documents are returned home and let the institutions work." He dismissed speculation of a diplomatic rift with South Africa.
South African authorities have condemned violence against foreigners and pledged to crack down on xenophobic attacks, stating such acts have no place in their constitutional democracy.
