Benjamin Quarshie, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, has warned South Africans to stop the verbal attacks targeting Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Ghana’s High Commissioner urged South Africans to exercise restraint and respect Ghana’s leaders.
He disclosed that the conduct of some South Africans was deeply troubling, especially coming from individuals who should know better.
Speaking in an interview with DW Africa, Benjamin Quarshie stated, “You hear people in South Africa, people that should know better, using very unprintable words on our President in Ghana and the foreign affairs minister”.
“Let me sound a word of caution, it is not that we are timid, not that we cannot have the same things that they are saying.”
“You can do whatever you want to do in South Africa, but we beg them, don’t bring our President into this,” he warned.
Benjamin Quarshie added, “It will get to a point that when the Ghanaian wants to use the same words, we will not be able to stop them. I heard people calling him names, unprintable names, but don’t bring it on any Ghanaian leader,” he stated.
“We are taught civically to respect authority, and that is exactly why we have kept quiet, and that’s exactly why we want to solve this thing diplomatically,” he added.
Also, Benjamin Quashie has announced that the first batch of Ghanaians being evacuated from South Africa will arrive in Accra on Wednesday, May 27.
Benjamin Quashie, disclosed that Ghanaian authorities, in collaboration with South African officials, are carrying out screening and verification exercises to finalise the list
He detailed that the evacuation process will not end with the first flight, as arrangements have already been made for additional flights.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa further disclosed that the first aircraft has the capacity to carry about 300 passengers.
Benjamin Quashie stated, “We are screening them, and once we are done, we will let them know the number of people who will be going to Ghana, and we are expecting to have between 200 and 300 people here today, and Home Affairs will set up at 10 am today for them to be able to leave on Wednesday at 6 am to Ghana.”
“The first group has an aircraft that will take 300, and after some few days, we will take another 300, and then there will be a third flight with another 300 to ensure that we get everyone home.”
The new date comes after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a temporary postponement of the planned evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa.
In a post shared by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed that more than 800 Ghanaians have registered to be evacuated.
He disclosed that Senior Government Officials on both sides are engaging on South African legal conditions, passenger screening, managing the high numbers and multi-institutional coordination as they work on a new date for the evacuation.
