Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks have dismissed allegations that some returnees received only part of the financial support package provided by the government. The evacuees insist that all returnees received the full package, comprising a GH¢500 transportation allowance and a GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance, upon their respective arrivals in Ghana.
Their response comes amid controversy over the evacuation exercise, which cost the government GH¢49,721,786.00 to repatriate 1,964 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa. The Minority has questioned the amount spent and raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the expenditure.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, October 26, 2026, one of the evacuees, Michael Addo, described as false claims that some returnees received only the transportation allowance while others received only the reintegration support. “The claims that some people received only the 500 transportation allowance while others received only the 5,000 reintegration allowance are all false,” Mr Addo said.
He added that all evacuees received the complete package on their respective dates of arrival in Ghana. The returnees also defended the government’s handling of the exercise, pointing to expenses incurred on chartered flights, accommodation, feeding, transportation and medical care throughout the operation.
According to them, the large number of evacuees overwhelmed available accommodation facilities, forcing some returnees to spend nights in churches and parking lots. They said blankets were provided to some of those staying in temporary shelters, while others fell ill due to the severe winter conditions in South Africa.
The evacuees further cited a press conference held by the Foreign Affairs Minister on September 7, 2026, the submission of reports to Parliament and the invitation extended to the Auditor-General to audit evacuation exercises dating back to 2017 as evidence of the government’s commitment to accountability.
They maintained that the government had exercised prudence in its spending, considering the logistical coordination required in South Africa and the assistance provided to returnees throughout the repatriation process.
However, the evacuees expressed concern about the potential impact of public allegations on the mental health of those who had returned home. They called for an end to discussions that draw returnees into the controversy surrounding the expenditure.
They also appealed to the media to encourage the government to sustain efforts to repatriate Ghanaians stranded in South Africa and other foreign countries, particularly those who lack the financial resources to return home.
