The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that Ghana does not owe South Africa any money for the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals following recent xenophobic attacks in the country.
The Ministry said the evacuation of more than 1,600 Ghanaians from South Africa since May 2026 has been fully funded by the Ghanaian government and its local partners.
The clarification follows media reports that South Africa is seeking about $18 million in reimbursement from several African countries for support provided in evacuating foreign nationals from the country.
“The evacuation of all our compatriots was fully funded by the Government of Ghana and our Ghanaian partners,” the Ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13.
The Ministry stressed that Ghana did not request any financial or material support from the South African government to repatriate its nationals.
It said the latest evacuations have also been funded entirely by the Ghanaian government and Ghanaian partners.
“Ghanaians can therefore be assured that under no circumstances will Ghana be listed among the countries being requested by the Government of South Africa to reimburse the cost incurred in repatriating foreign nationals,” the statement said.
The Ministry noted that the evacuees receive reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items upon arrival in Ghana to support their return and reintegration.
