The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that the Ghana evacuation from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks was fully funded by the Ghanaian government and local partners, rejecting reports suggesting Accra could be among African countries asked to reimburse South Africa for repatriation costs.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Ministry said Ghana did not request financial or material assistance from South Africa to evacuate its citizens.
Ghana rejects $18m reimbursement claim
The clarification follows media reports that South Africa was seeking about $18 million from several African countries to cover support and facilitation provided during the evacuation of foreign nationals.
The Ministry said Ghana's position was different. “The evacuation of all our compatriots was fully funded by the Government of Ghana and our Ghanaian partners,” it stated.
It added that Ghana “did not seek any financial or material support from the South African Government” to bring its nationals home.
The Ministry said the same arrangement has been maintained in the latest evacuations, with the Ghanaian government and its partners covering the entire cost.
More than 1,600 Ghanaians have been brought home from South Africa since May 2026, according to the Ministry.
The evacuation exercise remains ongoing as the government continues to respond to concerns over the safety of Ghanaian nationals following the reported xenophobic attacks.
The support does not end at the point of arrival. The government said evacuees receive reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items to help them settle back into their communities.
The Ministry therefore sought to reassure Ghanaians that the country would not be included among nations being asked by South Africa to reimburse the costs associated with repatriating foreign nationals.
Government vows to protect citizens abroad
The Ministry reiterated that protecting Ghanaians outside the country remains a government priority, particularly where their safety and security are threatened.
It said authorities would continue to take “timely and decisive action” whenever Ghanaian nationals abroad face serious risks, regardless of the financial cost involved.
The statement also expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and Ghanaian partners for supporting what the Ministry described as a fully Ghanaian funded evacuation effort.
For Accra, the message is straightforward: the repatriation of affected Ghanaians was paid for at home, and Ghana does not expect to receive a reimbursement bill from South Africa.
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