Ghanaians began flying home on one of the first flights from Johannesburg early Wednesday amid growing security concerns following a surge in anti-immigrant protests in South Africa.
The group of 300 individuals, including women and children, are part of what officials describe as a voluntary repatriation process for Ghanaian citizens who no longer feel safe in the country. South African and Ghanaian officials are collaborating on a list of about 800 people who have expressed their desire to leave.
An unnamed South African immigration official, speaking to local television station eNCA, reported that a large number of those departing were not legal residents. “We found that out of 300, only 10 are legal in the country, so a large number of them are not complying with our Immigration Act,” the official said.
The repatriation comes after weeks of anti-immigration protests, where campaigners have called for tighter controls on undocumented immigrants, accusing foreign nationals of contributing to crime and high unemployment.
The protests have been accompanied by incidents of violence targeting migrants from other sub-Saharan African countries.
A Ghanaian man preparing for his departure cited persistent harassment as the reason for his decision. “I am happy that I am going to my country… It is not easy to live in someone else's country and be troubled all the time,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Migrant rights groups argue that foreign nationals are being scapegoated by South Africans for the country's economic problems, particularly the unemployment rate of over 30 percent, which disproportionately affects the black population.
Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Kwashi, indicated that the departure was aimed at reducing tensions while preserving strong diplomatic relations.
Rejecting suggestions of a diplomatic rift, Mr Quashi commented, “Protesters have said they want us to work together. We must ensure that those who do not have documents return home and institutions are allowed to function.”
South African officials have condemned violence against foreign nationals and promised to deal with xenophobic attacks, saying such acts have no place in the country's constitutional democracy.