Hundreds of Ghanaian nationals have begun returning home from South Africa following a wave of anti-immigrant protests and reported violence targeting migrants from other African countries.
The first group of about 300 people, including women and children, departed from O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday as part of what authorities described as a voluntary repatriation exercise coordinated by Ghanaian and South African officials.
According to reports, South African authorities are working with Ghana on a list of nearly 800 citizens who have indicated interest in leaving the country over growing safety concerns.
The repatriation follows weeks of protests in parts of South Africa, where demonstrators have called for stricter immigration controls and accused undocumented migrants of contributing to crime and unemployment.
Some of the protests have reportedly turned violent, with migrants from several sub-Saharan African countries facing harassment and intimidation.
A South African immigration official, speaking to local broadcaster eNCA, said only a small number of those departing had legal residency status.
“What we found is that of the 300, only 10 of them are legal in the country, so quite a number of them are in non-compliance with our immigration act,” the official said.
One Ghanaian migrant preparing to leave said persistent harassment influenced the decision to return home.
“I’m happy that I’m going to my country. It’s not easy to be in someone else’s country and be disturbed all the time,” he said.
Migrant rights groups have criticized the protests, arguing that foreign nationals are being unfairly blamed for South Africa’s economic difficulties, including unemployment levels that remain above 30 per cent.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, said the repatriation was intended to ease tensions while maintaining strong diplomatic relations between both countries.
“The demonstrators have said they want us to work together. We must ensure that those who are undocumented are returned home and that institutions are allowed to function,” Quashie said, dismissing suggestions of a diplomatic fallout.
South African authorities have condemned attacks on foreign nationals and pledged to take action against xenophobic violence, insisting such acts are inconsistent with the country’s constitutional values.
Source: Reuters
