Hundreds of Ghanaian nationals departed South Africa on Wednesday under a voluntary repatriation programme following weeks of anti-immigrant protests that have heightened fears among foreign communities in the country.
About 300 Ghanaians, including women and children, gathered at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport to board one of the first flights back to Ghana, as authorities from both countries coordinated efforts to facilitate the departures.
The repatriation comes amid growing tensions over immigration in South Africa, where recent demonstrations have called for tougher action against undocumented migrants and stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
South African and Ghanaian authorities have compiled a list of around 800 Ghanaian nationals who have expressed a desire to return home, citing safety concerns and uncertainty about their future in the country.
A South African immigration official told local broadcaster eNCA that many of those preparing to leave lacked valid immigration documentation.
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“Of the 300, only 10 are legal in the country, so quite a number of them are in non-compliance with our immigration act,” the official said.
The departures follow a wave of anti-immigration protests across parts of South Africa, where demonstrators have accused undocumented migrants of contributing to crime, pressure on public services and high unemployment.
Some of the protests have been accompanied by attacks on foreign nationals and migrant-owned businesses, raising concerns among human rights organisations and diplomatic missions.
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One Ghanaian preparing to board a flight home said persistent harassment had made life increasingly difficult.
“I am happy that I am going back to my country. It is not easy to be in someone else’s country and be disturbed all the time,” he said.
South Africa hosts large numbers of migrants from across the African continent, many of whom are drawn by the country’s relatively advanced economy and employment opportunities.
However, economic challenges, including unemployment exceeding 30 percent, have fuelled periodic outbreaks of anti-immigrant sentiment.
Rights groups argue that migrants are often unfairly blamed for economic hardships and social problems that stem from deeper structural issues.
They warn that foreign nationals are frequently used as scapegoats during periods of economic strain, exposing them to discrimination and violence.
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Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, said the repatriation exercise was intended to help ease tensions while maintaining the strong relationship between the two countries.
“The demonstrators have said they want us to work together. We must ensure that those who are undocumented are returned home and that institutions are allowed to function,” Quashie said.
He rejected suggestions that the departures reflected a diplomatic dispute between Accra and Pretoria, describing the process as a cooperative effort between both governments.
South African authorities have repeatedly condemned violence against foreign nationals and pledged to prosecute those responsible for xenophobic attacks.
The government has stressed that while immigration laws must be respected, attacks on migrants and acts of intimidation have no place in the country’s constitutional democracy.
The latest repatriation effort highlights the continuing challenges facing South Africa as it balances immigration enforcement with the protection of vulnerable communities, while addressing growing public concerns over jobs, crime and economic opportunities.
For many of the departing Ghanaians, the journey home marks the end of years spent seeking better prospects abroad, but also an escape from a climate of uncertainty that has increasingly overshadowed their lives in South Africa.
