Stranded Ghanaians in South Africa Beg Government to Extend Evacuation Programme

Some Ghanaians stranded in South Africa have appealed to the government to extend or reopen its voluntary evacuation exercise, saying they are desperate to return home after allegedly losing their jobs, businesses and accommodation amid xenophobic attacks.

The appeal follows the government’s decision to end the evacuation programme after the final batch of 41 Ghanaians arrived in Ghana on September 4, 2026, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,964.

However, some Ghanaians who remain in South Africa say they are still facing severe difficulties and want the government to provide another opportunity for them to return home.

‘We Are Desperate’

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, September 7, one of the stranded Ghanaians, Margaret Amenuvegbe, said she and others had initially registered for the evacuation but did not attend the subsequent screening because of concerns about the conditions at the evacuation centres.

“We came after the screening. We were supposed to register to come home. We did the registration, but we didn’t come for the screening,” she said.

According to Amenuvegbe, reports that some Ghanaians who had already arrived at evacuation centres were struggling to secure accommodation discouraged them from completing the process.

“We heard that the place was so crowded, and then there’s nowhere to sleep,” she said.

She said reports that some returnees had been forced to sleep at a church further heightened concerns about what awaited those who joined the process later.

Despite those concerns, Amenuvegbe said she and other stranded Ghanaians were determined to return home after allegedly being forced out of their workplaces and accommodation.

“We wanted to come. We were ready to come because they even chased us from where we were working and then where we were sleeping,” she said.

Families Without Jobs and Accommodation

Amenuvegbe said four adults and four children in her immediate group are currently seeking assistance to return to Ghana, while several other Ghanaians are reportedly experiencing similar difficulties.

She said the situation has been particularly challenging for Ghanaians without valid work permits.

Amenuvegbe, who said she had lived in South Africa for 14 years and worked as a hairdresser, explained that immigration-related challenges eventually prevented her from continuing to work.

“When you apply for any paper, they don’t issue it,” she said. “Even if you show it to them, they say, yes, we can see you have a paper, but it doesn’t allow you to work.”

She added that some Ghanaians had also lost their businesses and accommodation, leaving them without reliable sources of income or shelter.

“It’s like everything is just—we are desperate,” she said.

Sleeping on Church Floor

Amenuvegbe said she and other stranded Ghanaians are currently staying at a church while waiting for assistance to return to Ghana.

“We are sleeping on the floor,” she said, adding that the situation was becoming more difficult as the weather became colder.

She therefore appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to end the evacuation exercise, stressing that those still stranded remain in urgent need of assistance.

“We are on our knees. We are begging,” she said. “We don’t want anything. The only thing we have to say is that we are on our knees. We are begging.”

According to Amenuvegbe, the stranded Ghanaians are ready to leave immediately if the government reopens the programme.

“Even if they say this night we are ready to go. This night, this week, we are ready to go,” she said.

Government Evacuation Exercise

The government began the voluntary evacuation exercise in May 2026 following xenophobic attacks targeting migrants in parts of South Africa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the exercise was designed to assist Ghanaians affected by the attacks and facilitate their safe return to Ghana.

The arrival of the final batch of 41 returnees on September 4 brought the total number of Ghanaians evacuated under the exercise to 1,964.

The latest appeal from those still in South Africa is now putting pressure on the government to consider whether the evacuation programme should be extended to accommodate Ghanaians who were unable or unwilling to complete the initial screening process.