Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed the full cost of evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks. Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, September 7, Ablakwa said the evacuation exercise cost a total of GH¢49,721,786, covering chartered flights, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation, medical care, reintegration support, and the repatriation of the remains of two Ghanaians who died during the crisis.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of the evacuation process. According to him, GH¢38.84 million was spent on chartered flights and tickets, ground transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation in South Africa, as well as medical and hospitalisation expenses. A further GH¢10.8 million was allocated for reintegration and transportation allowances for the returning nationals.
Ablakwa explained that each of the 1,964 evacuees received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and an additional GH¢500 for transportation, bringing the total financial support per evacuee to GH¢5,500. The government also spent GH¢84,274 to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians who lost their lives during the crisis, further adding to the overall cost of the exercise.
Ablakwa said the total amount has been fully settled, with no outstanding liabilities arising from the evacuation. Of the GH¢49.72 million spent, he said the government financed GH¢33.72 million, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, contributed GH¢16 million towards the exercise. The Minister commended Ibrahim Mahama for what he described as his commitment to the welfare of Ghanaians and his support for the evacuation programme.
Beyond the financial assistance, Ablakwa said returning nationals received additional welfare support to facilitate their reintegration and help them recover from the trauma associated with the attacks. He said psychologists and trauma counsellors were deployed to provide support upon arrival and through community-based follow-up sessions, while faith-based organisations and civil society groups also assisted with emotional and spiritual support.
The evacuees received a range of support, including free medical screening by Port Health, health insurance registration through the National Health Insurance Authority, and complimentary SIM cards with data and airtime from telecom providers. They were also provided with food packages from the National Buffer Stock Company, psychosocial services, logistics, hot meals, and water courtesy of the International Organization for Migration, NADMO, and the Red Cross.
Additionally, the Church of Pentecost offered free accommodation for some returnees in Pretoria, Kempton Park, and Johannesburg. Ablakwa noted that the government is now exploring long-term economic empowerment programs to help the returnees rebuild their livelihoods and reintegrate into their communities.
