Hundreds of Ghanaian nationals departed South Africa on Wednesday through Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport as part of a voluntary repatriation programme launched following a surge in anti-immigrant protests and growing security concerns.
According to authorities, the first group included around 300 people, among them women and children, who opted to return to Ghana after expressing fears over their safety amid recent unrest targeting foreign nationals.
South African and Ghanaian officials are reportedly coordinating the possible return of nearly 800 Ghanaian citizens who have indicated interest in leaving the country.
During an interview with local broadcaster eNCA, a South African immigration official stated that only a small number of those preparing to depart were legally residing in the country, while many were allegedly undocumented and in breach of immigration regulations.
The departures come after several weeks of demonstrations in different parts of South Africa, where protest groups have been calling for tighter immigration controls and accusing undocumented migrants of contributing to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
The protests have also been linked to incidents of intimidation and violence involving migrants from several sub-Saharan African countries.
Some of the departing Ghanaians described living conditions as increasingly difficult amid repeated harassment and hostility directed at foreigners.
Meanwhile, migrant advocacy organisations have criticised the growing anti-immigrant sentiment, arguing that foreign nationals are being unfairly blamed for South Africa’s broader economic challenges, including unemployment levels that remain above 30%.
Benjamin Quashie said the repatriation initiative aims to help ease tensions while preserving the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Ghana and South Africa.
South African authorities have condemned attacks against foreign nationals and reiterated commitments to combat xenophobic violence, stressing that such actions are incompatible with the country’s constitutional values.
Source: Reuters
