The final group of 342 Ghanaian refugees who fled xenophobic assaults in South Africa have safely arrived in Accra.
This completes the federal government’s evacuation of a complete of 979 Ghanaians from South Africa.
The ultimate batch of 342 returnees arrived at Accra Worldwide Airport on Sunday afternoon (7 June 2026), concluding the three-phase train.
The primary batch of 297 items arrived final week, adopted by the second batch of 340 items on Saturday evening (6 June).
Deputy Chief of Employees for Finance and Administration Nana Oye Banpoye-Addo and Deputy Minister of International Affairs James Gyakye Quayson led a authorities delegation on Sunday to welcome the evacuees.
Visibly agitated evacuees sang and praised God and President John Dramani Mahama for his well timed intervention within the wake of escalating xenophobic assaults in South Africa.
reconciliation, therapeutic
Addressing evacuees on the airport, the Deputy International Minister described the latest incidents in South Africa that led to the evacuation of Ghanaians as an “remoted incident” and expressed confidence that South Africa would quickly reconcile with the African group.
Mr Quayson appealed to the returnees to forgive South Africans and the South African authorities for the incident and give attention to their medical remedy.
“Every thing occurs in life for a motive and it is the way you cope with it that issues. I wish to imagine that it is a particular case, even when one thing like this has occurred earlier than, however I strongly imagine that South Africa will as soon as once more be a part of the African group.
“We should additionally study to forgive our enemies. That is essential. It’s a part of your therapeutic,” the deputy minister stated.
He blamed tensions in South Africa on desperation, medicine and exploitation by “low cost politicians” and stated: “The state of affairs in South Africa just isn’t regular.”
“That is Mandela’s South Africa, the place all of us fought for them. We owe our historical past to them. A few of us obtained Ghanaian passports after we have been combating to finish apartheid.”
help
Quayson assured the returnees that the federal government was prepared to assist, stressing that everybody was registered within the database and that authorities businesses and companies have been additionally keen to assist.
“You might be at the most effective time to come back to this nation for the most effective alternatives. This isn’t the Ghana you knew possibly 5 to 10 years in the past. Every thing is altering,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister emphasised President Mahama’s dedication to the diaspora, saying the federal government considers Ghanaians overseas to be the “seventeenth area”.
“The diaspora is the second largest income for this nation. It generates nearly $8 billion yearly. This authorities is your authorities. Even in your deathbed, we’ll carry you residence,” he asserted.
He urged returnees to construct their lives at residence, deal with their households and set an instance of their communities with the identical willpower they confirmed in South Africa.
assure
The Deputy Chief of Employees assured the evacuees of complete resettlement help, together with employment, medical insurance, and nationwide identification paperwork upon their return to the nation.
“Relaxation assured that the federal government will welcome you with open arms. We’re right here to serve you and work with you all through the resettlement. We’ve got ready a bundle for all of you. You’ll obtain social interventions,” Ms Banpo-Addo stated.
On employment, the Deputy Chief of Employees stated the President activated the Nationwide Apprenticeship Scheme for artisans by means of the Nationwide Youth Authority headed by Usman Ayariga.
“He (Usman Ayariga) has assured me that he’ll cooperate with the authorities. Those that want to work below the Nationwide Apprenticeship Scheme will likely be formally registered and these jobs will likely be provided,” she stated.
Ms Banpoe-Addo added that the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Division and the Nationwide Identification Division have been current to register all returnees freed from cost below their respective programmes.
