A Ghanaian man who was repatriated from South Africa, identified as Kofi Baah, has said that he regrets returning to Ghana.
According to Kofi Baah, if he had known the government would only provide him with GH₵5,000 in support, he would not have returned to Ghana.
He disclosed that he has been living with his four children and that the amount given to him has not been enough to meet the needs of his family.
Kofi Baah revealed that part of the money was used to rent a place to stay after the returnees arrived in the country.
According to Kofi Baah, before they returned to Ghana, the Foreign Affairs Minister had promised to help them secure jobs.
He disclosed that commitment convinced many of the returnees to leave South Africa; however, after four months of their return, the jobs promised to them, among other things, had not materialised despite submitting their CVs.
Speaking in an interview on Max TV, Kofi Baah stated, “Since I returned, I have been living with my four kids, with my firstborn completing SHS this year. The second child is also in basic school. If I had known they [govt] were only going to give us 5,000 cedis, I wouldn’t have returned to Ghana”.
“Initially, when we returned to Ghana, the government made arrangements for us, including the money I received. Out of that amount, I rented an apartment. The minister had promised to give us jobs, and that was the main reason why most of us left South Africa,” he disclosed.
“It has been four months since our arrival, and we haven’t heard from the government. They have asked us to send our CV, but there has been no response. Anytime I call to ask about the jobs, the response I get is that they have given our details to companies, but nothing. Even the Ghana Card they promised to make for us hasn’t been done,” he added.
“At least in South Africa, I would have avoided all the attacks and carefully protected myself because most of us were in groups. What we did was that while some of us were indoors, others were stationed outside to monitor the anti-immigrant protest groups, so when they heard of anything or saw them coming, they alerted us to find safety,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has said the GH¢5,000 reintegration support provided to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa is inadequate.
According to the minority, the GH¢5,000 reintegration support is inadequate to help Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa to resettle and rebuild their livelihoods in Ghana.
The Minority noted that evacuees who lost businesses and sources of income will struggle to restart their lives with GH¢5,000.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, September 10, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh, stated, “If somebody owned a restaurant, a boutique, a barbershop in South Africa and because of the xenophobic attacks he’s brought back home, you think GH¢5,000 reintegration is reintegration?”
The minority further disclosed that the GH¢20 million support offered by MTN Ghana could have provided additional assistance to the affected Ghanaians if the government had accepted the offer.
Watch the video below:
I wouldn't have come to Ghana if I had known this was how things were going to be – Kofi Baah (a repatriated Ghanaian from South Africa).#MaxTV #MaxOnline #MaxNews #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/FQiAlfMFaJ
— Max TV Ghana (@maxtvgh) September 23, 2026
@ghnow_ The Majority Leader has described as mischievous claims that Ghana has become a “cocaine coast” under President Mahama. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Hon. Jerry Ahmed has called on the government to address the cocaine-related issues in the country. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
