Accra:Ghana is ready to evacuate more of its citizens from South Africa if the security situation there deteriorates, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
According to Ghana Web, Ablakwa reported that Ghana's diplomatic mission in Pretoria has described the situation as "quite a dire situation" due to persistent anti-immigrant sentiment. This sentiment has been partly linked to a recent ruling by South Africa's apex court concerning asylum seekers.
Speaking on TV3, Ablakwa emphasized that the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau of the ministry is closely monitoring the situation and assessing the welfare of Ghanaians who may need assistance. He assured that the government is committed to protecting its citizens abroad and will intervene if renewed violence threatens their safety.
Ablakwa stated that Ghana has 72 diplomatic missions globally, all monitoring the welfare of Ghanaians in their respective host countries. Since last year, over 6,300 Ghanaians have been evacuated from distress situations worldwide, including 1,964 from South Africa during the latest exercise.
Ghana has petitioned the African Union (AU) over attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. Ablakwa noted that the AU has responded and will discuss the issue at its summit in January 2027. He refrained from commenting extensively on the latest incident to avoid prejudicing upcoming discussions at the summit.
The minister urged South African authorities to implement stronger measures to prevent further attacks against foreign nationals and ensure the safety of migrants amid concerns over worsening anti-immigrant sentiment.