Ghana fully funded South Africa evacuation
Ghana says it fully funded the evacuation of over 1,600 citizens from South Africa and will not reimburse Pretoria.
Ghana says it fully funded the evacuation of more than 1,600 citizens from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks, and will not be asked to reimburse South Africa for the repatriation costs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ghana did not seek financial or material assistance from the South African government for the evacuation, which began in May 2026 and remains ongoing.
The clarification follows South Africa’s request for reimbursement from some African countries after spending nearly $18 million accommodating and transporting more than 80,000 immigrants who were deported or returned home amid protests and violence over illegal immigration. Ghanaian returnees are also receiving reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items, the ministry said.
The Nigerian stake is clear. Nigeria also evacuated thousands of citizens from South Africa, but the government has not clarified who funded the evacuation. Ghana’s transparency is a model for Nigeria to follow.
From a Nigerian vantage point, the Ghanaian approach is a lesson in diplomatic responsibility. Nigeria must also clarify its evacuation funding and ensure that returnees are properly reintegrated.
This echoes the 2019 evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa, which also raised questions about funding and reintegration. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a need for transparency.
The winners: Ghana, which has demonstrated its commitment to its citizens; and Ghanaian returnees, who are receiving support. The losers: the Nigerian government, which has not matched Ghana’s transparency; and the Nigerian public, who are left in the dark.
Bottom Line: Ghana funded its own evacuation from South Africa. Nigeria must do the same. The question is whether Nigeria will match Ghana’s transparency.