Ghana has not ruled out evacuating more of its citizens from South Africa if anti-immigrant tensions escalate and the safety of Ghanaians comes under threat, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.
The minister disclosed that Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Pretoria had submitted a report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing the situation as “quite a dire situation” amid continued anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa.
Speaking on TV3’s The KeyPoints programme on Saturday, October 10, 2026, Mr Ablakwa said the government was monitoring developments and remained prepared to assist Ghanaians who might be affected by further violence.
Here are the key reasons why Ghana could organise another evacuation from South Africa.
1. Continued Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
One of the major concerns is the continued anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, which has raised fears about the safety and welfare of foreign nationals, including Ghanaians.
Mr Ablakwa said Ghana’s mission in Pretoria had reported a concerning situation, prompting the ministry to continue monitoring developments and assess the needs of citizens who might require assistance.
2. The Risk of Another Wave of Violence
Ghana could organise another evacuation if violence against foreign nationals resurfaces or the security situation deteriorates.
The minister said the government had not closed the door on further intervention and would act if Ghanaians needed assistance.
“It does not mean that if we have another wave, a deterioration of the situation and there are Ghanaians who need assistance, it does not mean that the door is shut and that we will not move in. We will indeed,” he said.
3. Concerns Over South Africa’s Asylum Policy
Mr Ablakwa linked the situation partly to a recent decision by South Africa’s apex court concerning asylum seekers.
He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau, was monitoring developments and assessing their potential implications for Ghanaians living in the country.
4. Ghana’s Commitment to Protecting Citizens Abroad
The government’s position reflects its stated commitment to protecting Ghanaians facing distress or insecurity outside the country.
According to Mr Ablakwa, Ghana’s 72 diplomatic missions around the world were monitoring the welfare of citizens within their respective jurisdictions.
He disclosed that more than 6,300 Ghanaians had been evacuated from distress situations worldwide since last year, including citizens brought home from Libya, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Of that number, 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated from South Africa during the most recent exercise.
5. The Need to Respond to Further Deterioration
The ministry is continuing to assess the situation to determine whether further assistance may be necessary.
Mr Ablakwa said the government remained prepared to intervene if conditions worsened and citizens required evacuation. However, he did not announce a new evacuation exercise or provide a timeline for any possible operation.
6. Pressure for Stronger Action Against Attacks
Ghana has also taken the issue to the African Union (AU), seeking continental attention to the attacks against foreign nationals.
Mr Ablakwa said the AU had responded to Ghana’s petition and indicated that the matter would be placed on the agenda of its next summit in January 2027.
He declined to comment extensively on the latest attacks, explaining that he did not want to prejudice discussions at the summit.
The minister, however, urged South African authorities to take further steps to prevent violence against foreign nationals from recurring.
For now, Ghana is monitoring the situation and has maintained the option of further evacuations if the security conditions deteriorate and citizens require assistance.
