Why Ghana authorities suspend fresh registration of citizens for evacuation from South Africa, warn against non-essential travel

Ghana authorities say dem dey overwhelmed by di number of pipo wey dey register for voluntary repatriation from South Africa.

Dis dey come days afta di first batch of nearly 300 pipo arrive for Ghana for 27 May 2026.

More Ghanaians dey expected to be evacuated as di High Commission and Foreign ministry confam say ova 1,000 pipo register to comot South Africa as tension dey rise and anti-illegal vigilantes continue to harass and attack foreigners.

Di second batch of evacuees delay sake of South African authorities neva give flight permit as at Sunday 31 May when di Ghana govment plan to move dem.

Ghana foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa tok for di sidelines of di Korea-Africa foreign ministers' meeting on 1 June say all dey set for di next batch to arrive.

"Di govment now dey wait flight permit from South Africa authorities to allow chartered flights to move in and comot all di registered Ghanaians."

Na so di High Commission now announce say dem suspend fresh registration of Ghanaians for now.

According to one statement from di High Commission, di suspension of di new registration dey take effect from 2 June.

"Dis na to enable di High Commission togeda wit di South Africa Home affairs to process and screen di large number of applications we already receive."

Di High Commission explain say "to date ova 1,500 Ghanaians bin register for repatriation wey we currently dey process and verify dem."

Authorities say dem go later announce di new date for di next phase of di registration to begin.

"We wan assure Ghanaians say di repatriation process neva end, so if you no register yet, make you no worry."

Ghanaian authorities also dismiss claims say dia citizens dey involve for crime for South Africa wey be di reason why anti-immigration vigilantes and oda groups dey pursue foreigners from di kontri.

"Di vast majority of Ghanaians we don register so far be legal migrants we bin check dia documentation togeda wit di home affairs department, eve one pesin no dey of interest to di south African authorities, so make you disregard di misinformation and propaganda," Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa explain.

Di minister add say "security officials dey di Ghana High Commission wit dia database, computers and wanted list wey dem dey check fingerprints and everitin, but dem no find even one pesin."

"Clearly Ghana no dey responsible or any high crime rates or illegality wey dey go on for South Africa," di foreign minister add.

One pesin die for Mossel Bay protest

Di anti-immigration vigilantes and oda groups dey continue dia protests across di kontri to demand removal of foreigners from di kontri.

Di March and March group wey give foreigners 30 June deadline to comot di kontri say dem dey stand by dia deadline.

Leaders of di group maintain say foreigners dey responsible for high crime rates, unemployment and stress on social amenities for di kontri.

For one of di protest wey happun for Mossel Bay for Western Cape from 29 May to 31 May, activists allegedly kill 19-year-old boy wey dem tink say im be foreigner.

Mama of di pickin for one emotional video explain say "I be di mama of Nhlamulo Sambo wey dem kill for dat protest, dem kill am sake of dem tink say im be foreigner, but we be South Africans from Limpopo."

"Dem kill my son like say im be dog sake of dem tink im be foreigner, di tin dey pain me, I dey hurt," mama of di late 19-year-old tok.

She add say she be unemployed wey she no get money to bury her pickin.

Vigilante group 'Operation Dudula' on top dia social media page explain say "wetin happun as quarrel for KwaNonqaba, cause one family to lose dia pickin. But dis death gatz nothing to do wit us (Operation Dudula and March and March)."

"Dem stab Nhlamulo Sambo during one confusion on Sunday, by di time emergency services reach dia, na ibi too late. Di suspected attacker reportedly run away immediately afta di incident," di Operation Dudula movement explain.

"We condemn di murder of di boy, ibi senseless and isolated act. We don condemn violence for our protests wey we neva target fellow South Africans, we no go be scapegoats for crimes we neva commit."

'Avoid non-essential travel to South Africa'

Wit di latest development. Ghana govment don issue travel advisory and oda alerts to dia citizens.

Inside one statement from di foreign ministry, dem tok say dem observe increase for xenophobic attacks wey dey result in injuries, closure of businesses and looting of shops wey belong to Africans.

"Di Ghana govment dey advise Ghanaians say make dem avoid non-essential travel to South Africa till further notice."

Di ministry also warn say "make citizens tink twice about dia travel plans to South Africa and those wey dey di kontri already gatz maintain contact wit di High Commission for consular services."

Ghana also call on di South Africa govment to provide security for targeted groups of Africans for dia terrority and enforce law and order in di spirit of genuine Pan -African integration.