The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that the Government of Ghana fully funded the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Ministry said it had taken note of media reports suggesting that the South African Government was seeking reimbursement of about US$18 million from several African countries for costs incurred in evacuating their nationals from the country.
The Ministry, however, stressed that Ghana did not receive any financial or material assistance from the South African Government for the evacuation of its citizens.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Ghana did not seek any financial or material support from the South African Government to bring our fellow nationals back home,” the statement said.
According to the Ministry, the latest evacuation exercise has been fully financed by the Government of Ghana, with support from Ghanaian partners.
It disclosed that more than 1,600 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa since May 2026, with the repatriation exercise still ongoing.
The Ministry said the evacuees receive reintegration support upon arrival in Ghana, including funds, transportation fares and other relief items to assist them in returning to and reintegrating into their communities.
It further assured Ghanaians that Ghana would not be among the countries expected to reimburse South Africa for the cost of repatriating their nationals.
The Ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Ghanaians living abroad, stressing that it would continue to take timely action whenever the safety and security of citizens are at risk.
It also expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and Ghanaian partners for supporting what it described as a fully Ghanaian-funded evacuation programme.
