President John Mahama has approved the immediate evacuation of 300 Ghanaian citizens from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals in the country.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Ablakwa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the evacuation followed presidential approval granted by Mahama.
According to Ablakwa, the affected citizens had earlier complied with an advisory issued by the Foreign Ministry and registered with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria for evacuation amid growing security concerns.
“His Excellency John Mahama has granted presidential approval for the immediate evacuation of 300 Ghanaians in South Africa,” the minister stated.
He added that the Ghanaian government remained committed to protecting the welfare and safety of its citizens both at home and abroad.
“The government of Ghana shall continue to safeguard the welfare of all Ghanaians home and abroad,” Ablakwa said.
The planned evacuation comes amid renewed outrage over persistent xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has repeatedly targeted foreign nationals, particularly migrants from other African countries.
The development also follows Ghana’s recent petition to the African Union over the recurring attacks on African nationals residing in South Africa.
