Evacuation of 300 Ghanaians From South Africa Begins Amid Anti-illegal Immigration Demonstrations

Published 27 May 2026

by Byron Pillay

3 min read

The Ghanaian government arranged a charter plane to evacuate the first lot of citizens from South Africa
Ghana's High Commissioner cited safety concerns amid increasing anti-illegal immigrant protests as the reason
Over 800 Ghanaians registered for voluntary evacuation, with many claiming they feared for their lives in South Africa

PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.

Approximately 300 Ghanaians have arrived at the airport ahead of their evacuation from South Africa — Approximately 300 Ghanaians have arrived at the OR Tambo International Airport ahead of their evacuation from South Africa. Image: Phill Magakoe
Source: Getty Images

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG – Ghanaian nationals have begun arriving at OR Tambo Airport, as efforts to evacuate them from South Africa go ahead.

Over 800 Ghanaians have registered for voluntary evacuation, with the first group of approximately 300 set to depart from the airport in Johannesburg on 27 May 2026.

The move comes amid rising tensions in South Africa, as organisations and individuals have held numerous demonstrations against illegal foreign nationals in the country.

Many Ghanaian nationals feel unsafe

Speaking about the evacuation, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, said that some received threats to leave by 30 June 2026, which is the deadline handed down to foreigners to exit the country.

He added that while many others did not personally experience danger, they still felt unsafe amid the ongoing anti-illegal immigration protests.

"The responsibility of any government is towards its citizens. We have a situation where people are feeling unwelcome. While we have excellent relations with South Africa, we had no option but to ensure that our citizens are safe," Quashie explained.

Ghana's decision to evacuate its citizens has sparked mixed reactions online. Some South Africans have accused the country's government of manufacturing tension, saying that they had issues with citizens from other countries more than Ghanaians.

They have also taken issue with some of the comments made by Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister and its High Commissioner, who have both been critical of the actions of many South Africans.

What else you need to know about Ghana's evacuation efforts

Only one Ghanaian national arrived at OR Tambo International Airport ahead of the first scheduled evacuation.
The Department of Home Affairs claimed that only 10 of the 300 evacuated Ghanaians were legally in South Africa.
Julius Malema described Ghana’s response to xenophobia fears in South Africa as unnecessary.
Ghana's High Commissioner blamed the Department of Home Affairs for South Africa’s illegal immigrant issues.
Ghana's High Commissioner also called for South Africans to be arrested following attacks on foreign nationals.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister rejected claims that Ghanaians were fuelling the high crime rate in South Africa.

Ghanaian national disappointed with South Africa

A Ghanaian national spoke to Briefly News about the country's perception of South Africa amid attacks against foreign nationals.

Emmanuel Mensah-Amoah, a resident of Accra, discussed why many Ghanaians opted to come to South Africa in the first place.