Ablakwa discloses GH¢49.7m cost of evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that the government spent GH¢49,721,786 to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks.
The total expenditure covered chartered flights, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation, medical care, reintegration assistance and the repatriation of the remains of two Ghanaians who died during the crisis.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, September 7, Ablakwa said the government was committed to transparency and accountability in the management of the evacuation exercise.
According to the Minister, 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.
An additional GH¢10.8 million was allocated to support returning nationals through reintegration and transportation allowances.
Each of the 1,964 evacuees received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and GH¢500 for transportation, bringing the total direct support per returnee to GH¢5,500.
The government also spent GH¢84,274 to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians who died during the crisis.
Ablakwa said the entire cost of the evacuation had been settled, with no outstanding liabilities arising from the exercise.
Of the total GH¢49.72 million expenditure, the government contributed GH¢33.72 million, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, provided GH¢16 million in support of the evacuation.
The Minister commended Ibrahim Mahama for his contribution, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to the welfare of Ghanaians.
Beyond the financial support, Ablakwa said the returnees received a range of welfare and reintegration services aimed at helping them recover from the psychological impact of the attacks and rebuild their lives.
Psychologists and trauma counsellors were deployed to provide support to the evacuees upon arrival, with additional community-based follow-up sessions organised to assist those requiring further care.
Faith-based organisations and civil society groups also provided emotional and spiritual support to the returnees.
The evacuees further benefited from free medical screening conducted by Port Health, registration with the National Health Insurance Authority, and free SIM cards with data and airtime provided by telecommunications companies.
Additional assistance included food packages from the National Buffer Stock Company, psychosocial support, logistics, hot meals and water supplied through the International Organization for Migration, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Red Cross.
Ablakwa also commended the Church of Pentecost for providing free accommodation to some of the returnees in Pretoria, Kempton Park and Johannesburg.
The Minister said the government is now exploring longer-term economic empowerment initiatives to help the returning nationals restore their livelihoods and successfully reintegrate into their communities.