Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that the government had no budgetary allocation for the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, but was compelled to intervene as the security situation deteriorated.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, September 7, 2026, Mr Ablakwa said the evacuation exercise, which brought 1,964 Ghanaians back home, was not anticipated and therefore had not been captured in the national budget.
He said the government, nevertheless, had to act swiftly because the safety and welfare of Ghanaian nationals could not be compromised.
“The evacuation could not have been anticipated, hence was not budgeted for. However, the Government had to act swiftly to protect the lives of its citizens. The lives protected and the dignity of Ghanaians far outweigh the cost,” he said.
The evacuation exercise commenced on May 27, 2026, and ended on September 4, 2026, with the government using both chartered and commercial flights to bring affected Ghanaians back home.
According to Mr Ablakwa, Ghana was the first country to evacuate its nationals from South Africa following the deterioration of the security situation and reported attacks targeting foreign nationals.
The first evacuation flight prioritised vulnerable groups, including children, women, the aged and persons who were sick.
The exercise was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria, with support from the Presidency, the National Security Secretariat and other relevant state institutions.
Four Ghanaians Lost Their Lives
The Minister disclosed that four Ghanaians lost their lives during the crisis, while some Ghanaian nationals also suffered losses to their property and other assets.
He said the government’s intervention was therefore necessary to protect Ghanaian nationals and provide support to those affected as they returned home.
Government Spent GH¢49.72 Million
Mr Ablakwa further disclosed that the government spent a total of GH¢49.72 million on the evacuation exercise.
He said GH¢38.84 million was spent on chartered flights, air tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation and medical care for Ghanaians evacuated during the exercise.
An additional GH¢10.80 million was spent on reintegration support and transportation allowances, while GH¢84,274 was used to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians who died during the crisis.
The Minister said the expenditure, although unbudgeted, was necessary to protect the lives and dignity of Ghanaian citizens caught up in the deteriorating security situation.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Ghanaians abroad and responding promptly whenever the safety and welfare of citizens are threatened.
