Stay indoors, evacuation is next week — Ghana Mission tells citizens in South Africa

The Ghana High Commission in South Africa has advised Ghanaian nationals to remain indoors and avoid opening their businesses as it prepares to carry out another evacuation exercise next week amid rising anti-immigrant tensions in the country.

In a public advisory video, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, urged citizens to stay in accommodation arranged by the mission and avoid unnecessary movement as authorities continue to monitor the evolving security situation, particularly around the June 30 date linked to planned demonstrations and an unofficial deadline for foreigners to leave.

He announced that a further repatriation exercise will take place next week and assured affected citizens that full details of the evacuation plan will be communicated in due course.

According to him, the South African Police Service has been engaged to provide security protection for Ghanaians housed at designated shelters.

“30th June is the day of the said demonstration. We urge you all to stay indoors. Don’t open your shops and businesses. Those we have secured accommodations at churches and hotels for should kindly stay there and not come out. The police will be there to protect you. We are set to undertake another evacuation. We will keep you posted on the dates and arrangements,” he said.

The advisory follows growing anti-immigrant sentiments in parts of South Africa, where groups have intensified calls for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. The situation has heightened fear among migrant communities, prompting many to relocate or seek voluntary return to their home countries.

The Government of Ghana has already evacuated several hundred citizens in earlier phases of the exercise, with the High Commission indicating that additional repatriation arrangements will be rolled out next week for registered individuals seeking to return home.