By Hannah Dadzie
The departure of Ghanaian traders and entrepreneurs from some communities in South Africa has created economic disruptions, with local residents feeling the impact of the absence of businesses operated by Ghanaians.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, who disclosed this, said reports received by the government indicate that some businesses have collapsed following the departure of Ghanaian nationals, highlighting the significant contribution Ghanaian migrants made in the communities where they lived and worked.
Mr Quayson made the disclosure when he welcomed the latest batch of 150 Ghanaian evacuees from South Africa, bringing the total number of Ghanaians evacuated under the exercise to 1,324.
He said the evacuation was necessary to protect Ghanaian lives following security concerns faced by some nationals in South Africa, but noted that the development had also exposed the important role Ghanaians played in local economies there.
“Reports we have received indicate that where you came from, many businesses have collapsed. Three days ago, I was in Ethiopia for an African Union ministerial meeting, and someone told me: ‘the Ghanaians have left,’” Mr Quayson said.
He explained that some South African residents who depended on Ghanaian-owned businesses were now facing difficulties accessing goods and services they previously obtained within their communities.
“The example given to me was someone who used to buy fresh bread in the morning right in their neighbourhood now has to travel to a supermarket. The distance is a problem, and the cost is a problem,” he added.
The Deputy Minister said the situation had compelled some communities in South Africa to recognise the contribution of Ghanaian migrants and the value they brought to local economies.
He, however, urged the returnees not to return home with bitterness or seek revenge over their experiences, stressing that Ghana and South Africa share a long-standing relationship as African brothers and sisters.
“South Africans are not our enemies; they are our brothers and sisters. We are all Africans,” he said.
Mr Quayson encouraged the returnees to see their return as an opportunity to transfer the skills, business experience and knowledge acquired abroad into Ghana’s development.
“Whatever plans or life you were building over there, bring that mindset back home and continue it here. Keep the same vision you had,” he urged.
He assured the evacuees that the government had put in place measures to support their reintegration, including skills profiling and linking them to opportunities based on their abilities and aspirations.
Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the National Health Insurance Scheme, Port Health and other agencies were present to assist with the transition process.
Mr Quayson said the returnees would also receive support packages to help them rebuild their lives, adding that children and adults would receive assistance appropriate to their needs.
He thanked Ghana’s Ambassador to South Africa and officials at the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, as well as religious leaders and community elders, for their role in supporting the evacuation process.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Ghanaians wherever they are, stating that the value of human life cannot be measured in monetary terms.
The latest arrival marks another phase in Ghana’s evacuation exercise, with 1,324 nationals now safely returned home from South Africa.
