Moment When Xenophobic Victims Arrived Ghana

The plane carrying 300 Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa due to anti-immigration protests has landed in Accra.

The group, which included women and children, arrived at the airport in Ghana’s capital on Wednesday. Authorities described their evacuation as a voluntary repatriation process for Ghanaian citizens who no longer feel safe in South Africa amid rising xenophobia that has left migrants facing harassment, job losses and violence. 

South Africa has worked with Ghanaian authorities on a list of approximately 800 people who had indicated they want to leave, as a wave of anti-immigration protests has seen campaigners demanding tighter controls on “undocumented migrants,” and accusing foreigners of contributing to crime and unemployment.

“Wherever Ghanaians are, we will make sure you are protected,” Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said as he greeted the group at the airport.

South Africa’s Border Management Authority said about 90 percent of Wednesday’s travellers were undocumented, with “most” having overstayed a visa by more than 30 days and “some” by a year or more.

Ghana’s high commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, however, has criticised South African authorities for backlogs in immigration processing for those seeking to renew their permits.