Some Ghanaians who are still stranded in South Africa have appealed to the government to extend its voluntary evacuation exercise.
According to the stranded Ghanaians, they are desperate to return home after losing their jobs, businesses and accommodation amid xenophobic attacks.
Margaret Amenuvegbe, one of the stranded Ghanaians, disclosed that she and others had registered for evacuation but did not attend the later screening over concerns about the conditions awaiting evacuees.
She alleged that reports that some Ghanaians who arrived at evacuation centres were struggling to find accommodation discouraged them from proceeding with the process.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, September 7, 2026, she stated, “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.
“We heard that the place was so crowded, and then there was nowhere to sleep,” she said.
“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.
“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.”
“It’s like everything is just- we are desperate,” she said.
Amenuvegbe said she and others are currently staying at a church as they wait for assistance to return to Ghana.
“We are sleeping on the floor,” she said. “Even now the things are getting cooler presently because the weather has changed.”
She further appealed to the government, saying, “We are on our knees. We are begging. We don’t want anything. The only thing we have to say is that we are on our knees. We are begging.”
“Even if they say this night we are ready to go,” she said. “This night, this week, we are ready to go.”
Their appeal follows the government’s, which ended the evacuation exercise following the arrival of the final batch of 41 Ghanaians in Ghana on September 4, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,964.
Meanwhile, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister, has announced a detailed breakdown of the cost involved in the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
Ablakwa disclosed that the total cost of the evacuation exercise amounted to GHS 49,721,786.00, covering chartered flights, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation, medical care, and reintegration support.
The Foreign Affairs Minister disclosed that GH¢38.84 million was spent on chartered flights, tickets, ground transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation in South Africa, as well as medical and hospitalisation requirements.
He added that another GH¢10.8 million was allocated as reintegration and transportation allowances for the returning nationals.
Ablakwa disclosed that each of the 1,964 evacuees received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and GH¢500 for transportation, bringing the total support per person to GH¢5,500.
Also, GH¢84,274 was spent to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians who lost their lives during the crisis.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that the total amount has been fully settled, with no outstanding liabilities arising from the evacuation, adding that out of the GH¢49.72 million spent, the government financed GH¢33.72 million, while Ibrahim Mahama contributed GH¢16 million towards the exercise.
@ghnow_ Weapons and fake number plates seized from 32 suspected armed robbers #GHNow #fyp ♬ Ghana Anthem (God Bless Our Homeland Ghana) – National Anthems Orchestra
@ghnow_ Ghana Police retrieve weapons and fake number plates from 32 robbery suspects #GHNow #fyp ♬ Otan by Sarkodie – ︎ ︎ ︎
