- Flight monitoring platform FlightAware indicated that the aircraft departed shortly after 11am local time
- Hundreds of Ghanaians were seen gathering at the O.R. Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg ahead of the departure
The first batch of Ghanaian citizens evacuated from South Africa following rising anti-immigrant tensions has departed for Accra, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the evacuation forms part of arrangements by the Ghanaian government to repatriate about 800 nationals amid protests and violent incidents targeting foreign residents in South Africa.
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An aide to Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Fred Duhoe, disclosed that the flight experienced delays before eventually taking off for Ghana.
Hundreds of Ghanaians were seen gathering at the O.R. Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg ahead of the departure.
Flight monitoring platform FlightAware indicated that the aircraft departed shortly after 11am local time.
The Ghana High Commission in South Africa earlier stated that around 300 people were expected to travel on the first evacuation flight scheduled to arrive in Accra later on Wednesday.
The Ghanaian government has also announced support measures for returnees, including financial assistance to aid reintegration and psycho-social support services.
South Africa, regarded as one of Africa’s leading industrial economies, has for years attracted migrants and workers from different African countries, both legally and illegally.
However, the country has continued to experience periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence, driven largely by frustrations linked to unemployment and economic hardship.
South Africa’s unemployment rate remains above 30 per cent, contributing to recurring anti-migrant protests and attacks in several communities.
Public outrage intensified recently after a viral video allegedly showing the assault of a Ghanaian man circulated widely on social media platforms.
The latest incidents have reignited conversations across the continent about xenophobia, migration policies and the contradiction between Africa’s pan-African ideals and the realities faced by migrants within the region.
