The government of Ghana has announced a short delay in its planned evacuation of Ghanaian citizens from South Africa, following recent xenophobic attacks reported in parts of the country.
In a statement released on May 21 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials said the evacuation, which was expected to begin on Thursday, May 21, 2026, has been put on hold for a few days.
The postponement is to allow authorities to complete essential logistical arrangements and meet legal requirements needed for the operation.
The ministry revealed that over 800 Ghanaians living in South Africa have registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, seeking assistance to return home due to growing safety concerns linked to the latest attacks on foreign nationals.
Officials explained that the scale of the evacuation, along with regulatory and aviation procedures in South Africa, has made the delay necessary to ensure all conditions are properly fulfilled before flights can be arranged.
In the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the evacuation exercise could not proceed immediately due to the need for proper coordination among multiple agencies, passenger screening processes, and the approval of flight permits.
It further added that these requirements must be completed to ensure a safe and orderly evacuation process, hence the decision to defer the operation by a few days