The first flight carrying Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa following anti-immigrant tensions departed for the West African nation, Ghana’s foreign ministry said.
About 800 Ghanaians are expected to leave South Africa after authorities in Accra arranged repatriation flights in response to protests and violence targeting foreigners.
Fred Duhoe, an aide to Ghana’s foreign minister, said the flight had been delayed but was later confirmed to be en route to Accra.
CliqMetro understands that hundreds of Ghanaian nationals on early Wednesday queued at O.R. Tambo International Airport outside Johannesburg.
Flight tracking website FlightAware showed the aircraft departed shortly after 11 a.m. local time.
The Ghana High Commission in South Africa said around 300 passengers were expected on the first evacuation flight scheduled to arrive in Accra later on Wednesday.
Ghana’s government said returnees would receive financial reintegration support and psycho-social assistance. South Africa, Africa’s most industrialised economy, has long attracted both documented and undocumented migrant workers from across the continent.
But with unemployment above 30%, the country has experienced repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence and anti-migrant protests, including renewed unrest in recent weeks.
A widely circulated video allegedly showing the assault of a Ghanaian man sparked outrage on social media and intensified concerns over the safety of foreign nationals. The latest tensions have reignited debate across Africa over xenophobia, migration and the gap between pan-African ideals and the realities facing migrants on the continent.