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The evacuation exercise comes after growing fears among African migrants living in South Africa, where protests and violence against both documented and undocumented foreigners have escalated in recent weeks. Ghana expects about 800 of its nationals to return home under the programme.
Ghana has postponed its planned evacuation of more than 800 nationals registered in Pretoria after renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Ministry cites time needed for screening, flight permits, and coordination with South African officials.
Ghana’s appeal, signed by Ablakwa, also proposed coordinated action, including a fact-finding mission, stronger monitoring systems and structured dialogue with South African authorities.
In a statement issued on May 10,2026, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the victims were freed in a “successful operation conducted by security operatives and officials of the Embassy of Ghana in Abidjan,” and are now assisting investigators as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle the criminal syndicate behind the scheme.
The request, signed by Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, seeks inclusion of the matter on the agenda of the Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union scheduled for June 24–June 27,2026 in El Alamein, Egypt.
Accra said the man is legally in South Africa and condemned the treatment he received, warning that such actions threaten the safety and dignity of law-abiding migrants. Officials also confirmed they had engaged South Africa’s acting high commissioner to Ghana, Thando Dalamba, lodging a formal complaint over what they termed “xenophobic incidents” affecting not only Ghanaians but other African nationals.
The decision follows the withdrawal of Ghana, which was the initial host.
The African Union reiterated its position that the consequences of slavery are not confined to history but continue to shape inequalities and systemic challenges faced by African nations and communities worldwide.
The vote saw 123 countries in favour, three against, the United States, Israel, and Argentina, while 52 countries, including the United Kingdom and European Union members, abstained.
The deal focuses on collaboration in counterterrorism, border protection, and cybersecurity. Opoku-Agyemang noted that Ghana is the first African nation to establish such a formal defence arrangement with the EU.
The meeting brought together diplomats, business leaders and financial stakeholders to explore SME financing, digital finance solutions and cross-border partnerships under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
The confirmed death toll of 55 Ghanaians is the highest from any African nation involved in the conflict. While local reports in Cameroon suggest 94 of its citizens have died, official authorities have not verified those numbers. In addition, two South Africans and at least one Kenyan are reported to have died in the fighting.