“You Touch One, You Touch All” – Ablakwa Defends Government’s Decision To Evacuate Ghanaians

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has defended the government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa, insisting that the safety and welfare of citizens abroad must remain a priority, especially when their lives may be at risk.

In a statement reported by GhanaWeb on Monday, October 12, 2026, Ablakwa made his position clear with a strong message about the government’s responsibility to its people.

“When you touch one Ghanaian, you touch all of us,” he said.

The statement comes as the government faces questions over its decision to arrange the evacuation of some Ghanaians from South Africa. The move has drawn attention to the difficult choices governments must make when their citizens face threats in another country.

For Ablakwa, the decision goes beyond politics. It is about protecting Ghanaian citizens, regardless of where they live or the circumstances they face.

Ghanaians living abroad contribute to their families and the national economy in different ways. Many work hard to support relatives back home, while others run businesses, study or seek better opportunities. However, living outside Ghana can also expose citizens to risks, including violence, discrimination and sudden unrest.

When such situations arise, the government is often expected to act quickly. But evacuation exercises can come with serious challenges, including transport costs, arrangements for safe travel and the need to confirm the identities and locations of those seeking help.

Ablakwa’s defence suggests that the government believes protecting its citizens should come before concerns about the cost or public criticism of the operation.

At the same time, questions about how the evacuation was organised, how many people were affected and what measures were taken to ensure their safe return remain important. Clear information on these matters would help the public understand the full scale of the exercise and how public funds were used.

The situation also raises a wider question about Ghana’s support for citizens abroad. Should the government wait until a crisis becomes severe before taking action, or should it put stronger systems in place to identify risks and respond early?

For many families, the issue is deeply personal. A Ghanaian living abroad may be a parent, a sibling or the main person supporting relatives back home. When that person faces danger, the worry does not stop at the border.

Ablakwa’s statement sends a clear message that the government sees the protection of Ghanaians abroad as a national responsibility. However, the success of such a promise will ultimately depend on how well it is carried out.