By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Ghana is rapidly expanding its emergency evacuation operations in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that an additional 600 Ghanaian citizens have now registered at the High Commission in Pretoria to flee the country. This surge comes immediately after a first wave of nearly 300 Ghanaian nationals successfully landed in Accra. In total, more than 800 Ghanaians have voluntarily asked to be flown home following a spike in safety concerns and reports of renewed violence targeting foreign nationals in several South African neighborhoods.
The Stance from Accra
Government officials in Ghana are framing the airlifts as a non-negotiable duty to protect their citizens. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa defended the quick mobilization. He insisted that state officials would act decisively whenever citizens face threats abroad.
“When the safety and dignity of Ghanaians are at stake, the Government of Ghana does not compromise or dither,” Ablakwa stated.
The foreign ministry is currently coordinating the next phases of the extraction to ensure every registered person returns home safely. Ablakwa also praised the calm demeanor of the displaced population during the crisis.
“I am immensely proud of the resilient spirit of Ghanaians,” Ablakwa added.
Opposition from Johannesburg
The rapid evacuations have sparked sharp political criticism inside South Africa. Julius Malema, the Commander-in-Chief and founder of the Economic Freedom Fighters, openly condemned the Ghanaian government’s flight program. Malema argued that the mass evacuations send a damaging message to the international community. He stated that the emergency flights wrongly imply that the entire South African population supports anti-migrant violence.
Speaking in an interview with SABC News on Thursday, May 28, 2026, Malema said Ghana’s response created the wrong impression.
“The Ghana response was not necessary because it now creates an impression that we’re all like that, when it is a certain section of our society that needs to be contained by law enforcement,” Malema said.
The Push for a Law Enforcement Solution
Malema insisted that local police and government channels are fully capable of restoring order. He suggested that Accra acted too quickly instead of trusting South African institutions to handle the criminals responsible for the unrest.
“The President of Ghana should have given us some time to really deal with this matter, and we’ll get to the bottom of it,” Malema argued.
The political leader urged worried migrants to use local security resources rather than leaving the country entirely.
“Those who don’t feel safe, especially the legally documented Ghanaians, should be able to run to police stations for safety, and they will be directed to the rightful places where they will be secured,” Malema said.
Preventing a Continental Rift
The dispute highlights a growing strain on bilateral relations between two of Africa’s largest economies. While Ghana prioritizes immediate physical security, South African leaders fear the long-term diplomatic fallout of highly publicized evacuations. Malema warned that the current path could cause lasting damage to state relations if open communication breaks down. He called for an immediate return to high-level state talks to defuse the growing anger between Accra and Pretoria.
“We need to pursue the diplomatic engagements with Ghana until we find one another,” Malema stated.
The Reality of Reintegration
For families waiting in Ghana, the focus has shifted toward the heavy logistical task of resettlement. State officials met the first wave of returnees with dedicated teams of doctors, nurses, and psychologists to provide immediate psychosocial support. The state-backed program is also actively distributing travel stipends and reintegration allowances to help the returnees securely resettle within their home regions.
As repatriation flights continue, the situation leaves both nations navigating a delicate diplomatic tightrope. The coming weeks will test whether Accra and Pretoria can balance immediate citizen safety with the broader goals of continental unity and mutual economic cooperation.
