Hundreds of Ghanaian nationals have started returning to Ghana from South Africa after recent anti-immigrant protests raised serious safety concerns for foreign communities. Early Wednesday, approximately 300 Ghanaians, including women and children, gathered at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport to board repatriation flights. This voluntary return initiative is a coordinated effort between Ghanaian and South African authorities.
The total number of Ghanaians seeking repatriation is estimated to be around 800. South African immigration officials noted that most of those departing were not in compliance with the country’s immigration laws. An official revealed that only a small fraction of the 300 travelers held legal residency status.
These repatriations come after weeks of protests in various parts of South Africa, where demonstrators have demanded stricter immigration controls. Some groups have accused undocumented migrants of contributing to the country’s high crime rates and unemployment, which remains above 30 percent.
Alongside the protests, there have been reports of violent incidents targeting foreign nationals from sub-Saharan Africa, heightening fears within migrant communities. One Ghanaian, who chose to remain anonymous, shared that ongoing harassment influenced his decision to return home, expressing relief at leaving due to feeling unsafe abroad.
Migrant advocacy organizations have cautioned against scapegoating foreign nationals for South Africa’s socio-economic problems, emphasizing that migrants are unfairly blamed for structural issues like unemployment and inequality.
In a significant development, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, stated that the repatriation process aims to ease tensions while preserving strong diplomatic ties between the two nations. He emphasized that the return of undocumented migrants is part of orderly administrative procedures rather than a sign of diplomatic breakdown.
Meanwhile, South African authorities have publicly condemned violence and intimidation against foreign nationals. They reaffirmed that xenophobic attacks violate the country’s constitutional principles and pledged to intensify enforcement actions against those responsible.
