- 300 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa arrived home to emotional scenes at the Accra International Airport
- Government officials welcomed returnees after weeks of uncertainty, following a wave of xenophobic attacks
- Social media reacted with heartfelt comments after seeing an elderly man struggling to walk among them
The first batch of 300 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the Accra International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, May 27, 2026, to emotional scenes, as families and government officials gathered to receive them.
Source: Instagram
The evacuees, who had been stranded following recent unrest in parts of South Africa, touched down at about 3:00 p.m. on board a chartered Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The government delegation which welcomed the returnees included:
- Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye-Quayson
- Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Dr Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon.
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They were joined by officials from the Ministry, the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Airport, and other security agencies, as well as anxious family members who had waited for hours at the arrival hall of Terminal Two.
Watch the Instagram video below:
Evacuee from South Africa struggles to walk
Many were seen waving Ghana flags and singing as they stepped onto home soil after weeks of uncertainty and fears following xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians and other African nationals.
Among the evacuees was an elderly-looking man who caught attention as he walked down the staircase from the plane.
The man looked visibly unwell and struggled to descend the stairs, even with the help of a walking stick.
Unlike other evacuees around him, he took quite some time to get off the stairs.
Watch the Instagram video of the elderly evacuee from South Africa disembarking below:
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Reactions to evacuee from South Africa’s video
The video of the elderly evacuee struggling to descend from the plane has triggered mixed reactions online.
While the situation saddened some, others were happy that he and the other evacuees were home safely.
One person, who claimed to be the man’s in-law, indicated that he had been unwell before the xenophobic attacks.
YEN.com.gh compiled some reactions below.
berlamundi said:
“This is so difficult to watch. They are welcome home🙏🏾.”
Junior Winfred K. Selorm said:
“Hon. James Gunu, please, this man Hail from Ziavi, my in-law, he is unwell before this situation sets in, we kindly need your assistance. Thank you.”
eddy_nyark said:
“You won’t know what the Gov’t has done until you’re a victim…God bless H.E JDM, HON. ABLAKWA AND ALL🙏🏽🙏🏽.”
ladyhelengee said:
“Ah, now you’re all making me cry 😭😭😭.”
richdave07 said:
“Welcome Home. Ghana is HOME.”
3kuaa said:
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“There’s space in SA now, so can they also leave and fill those spaces so our people coming can have a place to lodge…Give & Take or Take & Give😂😂.”
Ghanaian hairdresser attacked in South Africa
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that a Ghanaian hairdresser had been attacked amid rising xenophobia in South Africa.
Authorities in the country had assisted in repatriating approximately 800 Ghanaians who were fearing for their lives.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
