Audio by Vocalize
Ghanaian officials visit communities and cities to meet with their citizens and assess how persecution and attacks in South Africa have affected them. (BBC)
Ghana has launched plans to repatriate more than 200 citizens from South Africa after migrants reported harassment, threats and forced business closures during anti-immigration protests.
The move follows weeks of demonstrations in parts of South Africa, where protesters have accused undocumented foreigners of crime and job theft.
Protests spread to Mthatha, Durban, Pretoria, Estcourt and Johannesburg, with some local groups demanding foreigners leave the country.
Ghana's High Commission in South Africa said many citizens now fear for their safety and have requested voluntary evacuation back to Ghana.
Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa Benjamin Quashie accused local authorities in Estcourt of unlawfully targeting foreign business owners.
“The mayor of Estcourt confiscated the keys of foreign business owners and handed them over to locals,” Quashie said.
According to Quashi, foreign shop owners were given 21 days to leave the area, while locals were encouraged to take over their businesses.
“We think what the mayor is doing is illegal. He collected keys from people running mechanic shops and other businesses, even though locals admitted they could not run some of these businesses,” Quashi said.
He said diplomats from Nigeria and Angola also received complaints from their citizens at Estcourt.
“We have about 25 Ghanaians affected in this area where businesses are closed. We will challenge the mayor through the law because he cannot do what he is doing,” Quashie said.
He said African diplomats had passed statements from the affected migrants to the legal team preparing for court action.
The protests have been criticized by the United Nations and several African governments, who have described the incidents as xenophobic attacks carried out as part of anti-migration campaigns.
However, South African officials denied the claims of xenophobia.
Ghana's Foreign Ministry said it had warned South African authorities that continued attacks on foreign nationals could stoke anger against South Africans living in other African countries.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
Kwashi said Ghana will finance the repatriation program after more than 200 citizens register for evacuation by Monday, May 11.
“Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has directed us to collect the names of Ghanaians who want to return home and immediately begin processing them,” Kwashi said.
He said citizens without passports would receive emergency travel certificates at government expense.
“We do not want to leave any Ghanaian at the mercy of South Africans,” Kwashi said.
Figures from Ghanaian authorities show that approximately 20,000 Ghanaians live in South Africa, working in business, education, mining and healthcare.
However, some migrants now say they no longer feel safe living in the country.
Quashie said Ghana is also looking at job placement and reintegration assistance for returning citizens.
“Some businessmen in Ghana have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and want to support returning citizens with jobs,” he said.
Officials said no timeline has been set for the evacuation, but flights will be arranged after the process is completed.
follow the standard 