President John Mahama has for the first time, spoken about the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks.
According to John Mahama, Ghana had no option but to evacuate its citizens, arguing that the situation left many displaced foreigners vulnerable, including nearly 200 Ghanaians.
He added that they felt that the South African authorities were not doing enough to try to control what was happening.
Speaking at Chatham House in London on June 1, 2026, President Mahama explained, “It didn’t look like the South African authorities were doing anything to try to quell what was happening and also to provide protection to those who had been displaced”.
“There were even forays into health institutions, and if you were not South African, you were asked to leave the hospital even if you were ill,” he said.
“We had no option but to evacuate our citizens. We’re going to do two more to take those who want to leave. It is voluntary. We asked, “Do you want to stay or leave?” And many of them say they feel threatened. And so they want to leave.”
He further called on South African to address the root causes of the violence rather than leave foreign nationals unprotected.
Mahama added, “I think it’s unfortunate what is happening in South Africa. We need to drill down to what causes these flare-ups in terms of xenophobia”.
“And so all of us must empathise with South Africa or must sympathise with South Africa,” he said.
“And we must help South Africa to be able to drill down and find out what it can do to reduce unemployment rates amongst the black populations.”
“After the last fellow African leaves, is it going to change unemployment among blacks in South Africa?” he asked.
However, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has fumed at the government of Ghana over the evacuation of 297 Ghanaians from South Africa.
According to Julius Malema, the response of the Ghanaian government was not necessary as it creates an impression that “we are all like that”.
He further argued that South Africa should not respond in the same way, saying Ghana’s approach does not reinforce dialogue and diplomatic engagement.
Speaking to the media, Julius Malema argued, “The Ghana response was not necessary; it now creates an impression that we are all like that. But it is a certain section of our society that needs to be contained by law enforcement.
One Ghanaian lady was saying I wouldn’t have taken this option, but the problem was that we are being beaten in front of the Police, and the Police are not doing anything. That is a problem. When this opportunity came for me to leave, I left.
Because if the Police cannot defend me, it means the state is in agreement with the people who are beating me”.
He added, “We will resolve this; the President of Ghana should have given us some time to deal with this matter. And we will get to the bottom of it; we hope they will come to their senses. We don’t have to respond the same way they did; we need to pursue diplomatic engagement with Ghana.
We don’t think Ghana reacted in a manner that reinforces disloyalty and diplomatic engagement; it actually creates a very bad extreme situation, which is not. It is a select few we are pursuing and persuading the government to act on those few.
They must give use sometime, and those who don’t feel safe, especially the legally documented Ghanaians, should be able to run to the police station for safety. The reaction of the government should have been postponed to give us an opportunity to deal with what is happening in South Africa”.
Meanwhile, reports coming in suggest the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has announced the temporary suspension of registration for the ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise for Ghanaians in South Africa.
The statement issued announced that the suspension takes effect on June 2, 2026.
According to the High Commission, the decision is to allow officials to process and screen the large number of applications already received.
They further disclosed that more than 1,500 Ghanaians have so far registered.
The Commission promised applicants yet to register that another registration phase will be announced in due course.
“The date of the next phase for new registration will be communicated in due course,” the statement said.
Watch the video below:
From Chatham House, London, uk 🇬🇧 H.E John Dramani Mahama @JDMahama on Xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians and other Africans living in South Africa 🇿🇦 .#SayNo2Xenophobia#ChathamHouseUk pic.twitter.com/aMrWb1O3YM
— Aristotlektv (@aristotledada) June 1, 2026
