Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa has admitted to errors in the records of 15 evacuees’ birth dates of Ghanaians evacuated from the country.
In a press statement dated October 19, 2026, the High Commission said the errors occurred during the transcription of passport details by its officials.
According to Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa, passport expiry dates were mistakenly recorded as dates of birth.
“The High Commission takes responsibility for the minor clerical errors which affect only 15 individuals out of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated,” the statement said.
“Our verification of the records indicates that the dates interpreted as dates of birth were, in fact, passport expiry dates.”
The High Commission acknowledged that its officials made errors while transcribing passport details, attributing the mistakes to the emergency circumstances surrounding the evacuation of distressed Ghanaians.
“However, these minor clerical errors do not invalidate the identities of the evacuees, their participation in the evacuation exercise, or the fact that they received the approved reintegration and transportation allowances.”
The High Commission maintained that all Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa underwent the required identification, data-processing and departure formalities before leaving the country; subsequently provided corrected details for the 15 individuals to facilitate updates.
The mission, in their statement, also supplied the right birth dates and passport expiry dates for several people referenced.
“These details confirm the identities of the persons concerned and the corresponding travel documentation,” the statement said.
“The High Commission fully respects the important role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability. In that spirit, we encourage verification with the appropriate official sources whenever apparent discrepancies arise in administrative records,” it added.
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, statement follows: Data released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa has raised questions about the accuracy of the records after several entries reportedly contained impossible dates of birth, including years 2034 and 2036.
A Joy News report on October 19, 2026, identified at least 14 names with seemingly inconsistent or impossible personal details in the data released by the ministry.
In the entries, Precious Sekyiwaa’s date of birth was recorded as October 28, 2034, while James Akoto Baffour was listed as having been born on December 26, 2036. Both dates are in the future.
Similarly, Victoria Aduakwa was recorded as having been born in 2034, while Ebenezer Losu’s year of birth appeared as 20232.
Also, other entries reportedly contained dates that do not exist on the calendar. David Botwey’s date of birth was listed as the fourth day of the 24th month in 1989, although a year has only 12 months.
The data also reportedly included an evacuee whose date of birth was recorded as February 31, 1990, despite February having a maximum of 29 days.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs data discrepancies have raised concerns about the accuracy of the information published by the ministry and the processes used to collect and verify the returnees’ personal details.
The evacuation exercise has become increasingly controversial in recent weeks, with the Minority in Parliament demanding a detailed breakdown of the number of Ghanaians brought home and the cost of the operation.
The latest questions come amid scrutiny of the reported GH¢49.7 million spent by the government on the evacuation.
The ministry’s records are likely to face further examination as calls grow for transparency over the exercise, including the accuracy of the beneficiary list and the expenditure involved.
See the statement below:
@ghnow_ Arrival of Sarkodie in Kumasi for his Rapperholic concert at Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – lyricsfirm1
@ghnow_ Sarkodie has arrived in Kumasi ahead his rapperholic concert in Kumasi #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – 💿 MUSIQZ PALACE 🎸🏰
