The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has strongly criticised government over the postponement of the planned evacuation of Ghanaians living in South Africa amid renewed xenophobic tensions in the country.
In a statement signed by Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency on May 22, 2026 he described the development as “deeply troubling” and questioned government’s handling of the situation, involving the safety of Ghanaian nationals abroad.
According to the Minority, recent xenophobic incidents in South Africa have created fear and uncertainty among foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, prompting concerns about the safety and welfare of citizens residing there.
The statement noted that reports of intimidation and attacks had led government to announce plans for an evacuation exercise to support affected Ghanaians.
The caucus further revealed that hundreds of Ghanaians had reportedly registered with Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria in anticipation of being evacuated or assisted.
However, government later announced a postponement of the exercise, citing legal and logistical challenges. The Minority argued that such issues should have been addressed before any public commitments were made.
“Such matters should not become obstacles in the middle of a crisis response. They are issues that ought to have been considered and addressed before commitments were made publicly,” the statement stressed.
The Minority said it had consistently called for swift and coordinated action from the onset of the crisis, insisting that the protection of Ghanaians abroad remains a fundamental responsibility of government.
The caucus also warned that the postponement reinforces growing concerns about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ approach to citizen protection and crisis management. It said the development highlights the need for government to ensure that public announcements are backed by adequate operational systems capable of delivering on promises made to citizens.
“Behind every statistic is a Ghanaian citizen, a family living in fear, and people looking to their country for protection and reassurance,” the statement added.
The Minority has, therefore, renewed its call on government to act with urgency, provide regular updates to affected citizens and the public, and ensure all necessary measures are taken to safeguard the dignity, welfare and safety of Ghanaians living abroad.
