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The Ghanaian government has announced that the evacuation of its nationals from South Africa will commence on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a post shared on X, disclosed that a special chartered flight will depart from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 5 a.m. on Thursday.
Ghanaians in South Africa are advised to contact the country’s High Commission in Pretoria for more information on the evacuation flight.
Ghanaian President John Mahama had approved the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks in the country on May 13.
EVACUATION OF GHANAIANS FROM SOUTH AFRICA pic.twitter.com/SfSdHdM6OA
— Ghana MFA (@GhanaMFA) May 18, 2026
The country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the affected citizens had complied with the ministry’s advisory and registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria for evacuation assistance.
The evacuation follows a renewed wave of violent attacks on Black migrants in South Africa.
In recent times, some South Africans have assaulted Black migrants and called for their departure from the country, with some also staging protests demanding their deportation.
The governments of countries whose citizens have been affected by the xenophobic attacks, including Nigeria, have announced voluntary repatriation programmes for their citizens.
Over 130 Nigerians have already registered with Nigerian missions in South Africa for assistance to return home, with the number expected to rise. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has also directed the establishment of crisis notification centres to support distressed Nigerians.
