JOHANNEBURG — The primary group of round 300 Ghanaian nationals flew to their nation on Wednesday as their authorities began a voluntary repatriation program for its residents in response to anti-immigration tensions in South Africa.
Households and vacationers gathered on the Tambo Worldwide Airport in Johannesburg with their baggage as officers and police coordinated the departure course of.
The repatriation follows renewed demonstrations over unlawful immigration in components of South Africa, the place frustrations over unemployment, crime and entry to providers have fueled tensions.
Ghana’s Excessive Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, instructed reporters on the airport that extra folks than these on the registered checklist turned as much as the airport.
He stated their registration can be processed forward of the following flight to Ghana, anticipated to depart Sunday.
Ghana lately summoned South Africa’s ambassador over reported assaults on Ghanaians, earlier than asserting it could evacuate its affected residents.
Loren Landau, a migration skilled and political analyst on the College of the Witwatersrand, stated the transfer by the Ghanaian authorities was a message to South Africa about their unhappiness over current occasions.
“I believe on this case, it’s much less about Ghana attempting to guard its residents per se, or these 300. This can be a symbolic transfer to attempt to ship a message to their form of greater counterpart, South Africa, that that is politically unacceptable,” stated Landau.
A few of these repatriated had been held on the Lindela Repatriation Centre for immigration-related issues.
Greater than 800 Ghanaians registered with the Ghana Excessive Fee in Pretoria for evacuation following weeks of protests and rising fears amongst international nationals.
Ghanaian authorities stated the repatriation effort was being carried out in coordination with South African officers after issues over the protection and well-being of migrants.
South African authorities have condemned violence in opposition to international nationals whereas acknowledging issues about unlawful immigration.
Nigeria additionally voiced its disapproval on the therapy of a few of its residents and stated it was additionally contemplating evacuating a few of its residents.
