Ghana repatriates citizens from South Africa amid rising protests

Ghanaian authorities have begun the repatriation of its citizens from South Africa, with the first group of about 800 people expected to be flown back home on Wednesday morning.

According to reports from the BBC, dozens of buses arranged by the Ghanaian embassy arrived at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport around 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT), transporting passengers who had registered for evacuation.

The group included men, women, and children of various ages. A smaller number of passengers also arrived in a police van and were separated from the larger group under police supervision.

All individuals were reportedly registered and processed by embassy and airport officials before departure.

Rising Anti-Immigration Protests Spark Concerns

The evacuation comes in the wake of recent anti-immigration protests across several South African cities, which have raised fears of renewed xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals.

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Demonstrators, under a movement known as “March and March", have accused undocumented migrants of putting pressure on public services and have called on the government to tighten immigration enforcement. The group has also set a June 30 deadline for illegal migrants to leave the country.

Voices From the Evacuation

Few of the departing Ghanaians agreed to speak to the media, but one passenger, Rudolph — who has lived in South Africa for 10 years and runs a salon — said he was leaving due to growing insecurity.

“It's not comfortable for us to stay here anymore, so we have to go. I think we will find peace at home,” he said.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, said the government intervened after many citizens reported feeling unsafe and economically restricted.

He explained that the state’s priority was to ensure the safety and dignity of Ghanaians abroad, while also supporting reintegration for returnees.

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Authorities indicated that while an initial group of about 300 people would depart on Wednesday, additional registered citizens were still undergoing screening and would be repatriated in subsequent phases.

Background and Broader Concerns

An estimated 25,000 Ghanaians live in South Africa, many engaged in small and medium-scale businesses.

Analysts have linked the resurgence of anti-migrant sentiment to broader socio-economic pressures and upcoming local elections scheduled for later this year.

South Africa has experienced previous waves of xenophobic violence, including deadly outbreaks in 2008 and 2019, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of foreign nationals.