Ghana to Launch Diaspora Consular Fund to Support Citizens in Distress Abroad – Ablakwa

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to establish a Ghanaian Diaspora Consular Fund to provide emergency financial support to Ghanaians who find themselves in distress or crisis situations abroad.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the initiative during a press briefing on the government’s evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa.

According to the Minister, the fund will serve as a dedicated emergency response mechanism to enable the government to provide swift assistance to Ghanaians facing difficult circumstances outside the country.

“I wish to announce that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon launch a Ghanaian Diaspora Consular Fund which will serve as an emergency response funding mechanism to swiftly take care of Ghanaians in distress and during crisis situations anywhere in the world,” Mr Ablakwa said.

The announcement follows the government’s evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa amid heightened concerns over the safety and security of foreign nationals.

Mr Ablakwa explained that the evacuation exercise was not anticipated and, therefore, had not been captured in the government’s budget. However, he said the government was compelled to intervene as the security situation deteriorated and the safety of Ghanaian nationals became a concern.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting Ghanaians wherever they may be, stressing that the state would continue to take timely and decisive action whenever the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad are threatened.

The Minister also commended Ghanaians for the solidarity they demonstrated in defending the rights and welfare of compatriots affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

“We have demonstrated what we can achieve by ourselves when we are united. Our creed is not in doubt: touch one, touch all. Team Ghana is the winner in this entire evacuation exercise,” he said.

The evacuation exercise, which began on May 27 and ended on September 4, was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, the Presidency, the National Security Secretariat and other relevant state institutions.

The first evacuation flight prioritised vulnerable groups, including children, persons who were sick, the aged and women, as authorities sought to ensure that those most at risk were given priority.

Mr Ablakwa said the proposed Diaspora Consular Fund would strengthen Ghana’s capacity to respond to similar emergencies in the future by creating a dedicated funding mechanism to assist citizens facing crises anywhere in the world.

The initiative is expected to provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with greater flexibility to respond quickly to emergencies involving Ghanaians abroad without having to rely solely on existing budgetary allocations or seek ad hoc funding when crises occur.