The Ministry of Overseas Affairs has issued a journey advisory for Ghanaians to keep away from non-essential journey to South Africa following latest xenophobic assaults concentrating on Africans in Ghana.
A press release launched by the ministry on Monday, June 1, 2026, mentioned a gaggle calling itself anti-immigrant vigilantes carried out the assault, inflicting accidents, looting, enterprise closures and property destruction.
“The Authorities of the Republic of Ghana hereby advises Ghanaians to train excessive warning of their journey plans and keep away from all non-essential journey to South Africa till additional discover,” the assertion mentioned.
He urged Ghanaians already residing in South Africa to take care of common contact with the Ghanaian Excessive Fee in Pretoria for consular help and updates.
The journey advisory is predicated on a collection of diplomatic measures taken by the federal government in response to the assault.
Earlier, Overseas Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa known as on the performing Excessive Commissioner of South Africa to Ghana to formally convey Ghana’s considerations over xenophobic incidents involving Ghanaians.
The ministry cited confirmed instances of Ghanaian residents who legally resided in KwaZulu-Natal however have been ordered deported when confronted.
Ghana additionally petitioned the African Union Fee to put the difficulty on the agenda of the eighth AU Mid-Yr Coordination Convention scheduled for June 24-27, 2026 in Cairo, Egypt.
In its petition, Ghana mentioned the assault was a matter of pressing concern throughout the continent, citing the lack of life, destruction of companies and rising anxiousness amongst African nationals in South Africa.
South Africa’s Division of Worldwide Relations and Cooperation mentioned it regretted Ghana’s choice to refer the matter to the African Union. President Cyril Ramaphosa however condemned xenophobia and mentioned he had instructed regulation enforcement to guard all residents.
On 12 Might 2026, President John Dramani Mahama accepted the speedy evacuation of Ghanaians registered on the Ghana Excessive Fee in Pretoria.
The primary batch of 300 evacuees arrived at Kotoka Worldwide Airport on Might 27 on a government-chartered Ethiopian Airways flight.
Mr Ablakwa welcomed the returnees and introduced a help package deal together with transportation help, short-term lodging, counseling, monetary help and entry to employment and enterprise alternatives.
He additionally revealed that 26 Ghanaians held in South African prisons for visa-related offenses have been launched following negotiations between the 2 governments.
“We negotiated with the South African authorities, and the South African authorities agreed, saying that since now we have evacuated our folks, we do not need to go away anybody behind in jail,” Ablakwa mentioned.
Benjamin Quashie, Ghana’s Excessive Commissioner to South Africa, mentioned 826 Ghanaians had registered to evacuate and extra have been anticipated to return with further flights.
The Division of Overseas Affairs known as on the South African authorities to guard Africans residing within the nation and implement regulation and order.
The ministry mentioned Ghana will proceed to work with South African authorities to facilitate the evacuation of nationals wishing to return house.
