Accra: Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks have made the country proud after passing extensive security screening without a single person being linked to criminal activity, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has disclosed. The Minister said the outcome had vindicated Ghana's longstanding reputation as a nation of law-abiding citizens and disproved attempts by some individuals to portray Ghanaians as criminals.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Ablakwa, while receiving the second batch of about 340 evacuated Ghanaians at the Accra International Airport, emphasized that Ghana had emerged from the crisis with its image and reputation enhanced. The joint screening took place against a backdrop of persistently high violent crime in South Africa, committed by locals but wrongly attributed to foreign nationals.
In the 2022/23 financial year, South Africa Police Service (SAPS) recorded over 1.8 million counts of serious and violent crimes, a 7.7% increase from the previous year. Murder rates, in particular, reflected a concerning trend, with an average of 76 people killed daily during this period. The subsequent years showed some positive signs of decline in murder rates, yet officials highlighted that crime levels remain unacceptably high.
It was against this backdrop that South African authorities insisted on a joint security screening and vetting process as a condition for the evacuation exercise. According to Mr. Ablakwa, security agencies from both countries collaborated to verify the identities and backgrounds of all Ghanaians seeking evacuation, ensuring a thorough and transparent process.
Mr. Ablakwa praised the clean record as evidence of the law-abiding nature of Ghanaians residing in South Africa. He commended the evacuees for maintaining discipline, hard work, and respect for the law despite the challenges they faced abroad. The Minister described the collective achievement as remarkable and emphasized the rarity of a 100% clean security record in such operations.
He further encouraged the returnees to take pride in their identity and continue upholding the values that earned them recognition. The government, he assured, is dedicated to assisting them through reintegration programs, employment opportunities, and efforts to secure compensation for losses incurred during the attacks.
The evacuation exercise is set to conclude with the arrival of the final batch of evacuees, bringing the total number of Ghanaians repatriated from South Africa to nearly 1,000. Mr. Ablakwa expressed his pride in their exemplary conduct, reiterating that Ghanaians are decent, law-abiding, and responsible citizens wherever they may be.