Xenophobia: Ghana to evacuate 1,000 more citizens from South Africa

One thousand more Ghanaian migrant workers would start returning on Sunday and Monday from South Africa, where there have been violent protests against migrants, the government said.

Ghanaian authorities have already brought 926 people out of South Africa and have made outspoken criticism of the deadly events in the continent’s major economy.

The foreign ministry said late Saturday that special flights bringing the migrant workers back would start arriving on Sunday and Monday. It said this was the “final phase” of Ghana’s evacuation of nationals.

Ghana’s President John Mahama has called on the African Union to put the “xenophobic attacks” in South Africa on its agenda accusing the Pretoria government of not doing enough to stop them.

The latest evacuation comes days after more than 160,000 foreign nationals were reported to have left South Africa over the past two months as hostility towards undocumented migrants escalated.

According to an AFP tally based on figures released by the repatriating governments, the returnees include citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho and Uganda.

The unrest has claimed at least four migrant lives, according to South African authorities, although some foreign governments have reported higher death tolls among their citizens.

South Africa has witnessed weeks of anti-migrant protests, with vigilante groups accusing undocumented foreigners of taking jobs and contributing to crime. Analysts, however, say migrants are being blamed for broader economic and governance challenges, including high unemployment and poor service delivery.

Ghana had earlier postponed a planned visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and joined Nigeria in calling for the issue of what both countries described as “Afrophobia” to be discussed at the next African Union summit.

AFP