Registration for the voluntary repatriation of Ghanaians living in South Africa has been temporarily suspended after more than 1,500 people signed up for the program. In a notice issued on June 1, the Ghana High Commission in South Africa announced that the suspension would take effect on June 2. This measure is to allow officials to process and verify the large volume of applications already received.
The High Commission stated that the decision was made “to enable the High Commission and Home Affairs to process and screen the numerous applications already submitted.” They also confirmed that “over 1,500 Ghanaians have registered” since the initiative began, and the verification and processing of these applications are currently underway.
The temporary halt comes amid ongoing efforts by Ghanaian authorities to facilitate the return of citizens who have expressed interest in coming home from South Africa. Despite the suspension, the High Commission assured prospective applicants that the repatriation programme remains active and has not been brought to an end.
It stated that “the repatriation exercise has not yet ended” and encouraged those who have not yet registered to await further announcements. The mission added that details of the next phase of registration would be communicated later. “The date of the next phase for the new registration will be communicated in due course,” the statement noted.
The High Commission also thanked members of the Ghanaian community in South Africa for their cooperation, patience and understanding as authorities work to ensure what it described as a “well-coordinated exercise.”
Source: Bernard Ralph Adams
