Benjamin Quashie has announced that the first batch of Ghanaians being evacuated from South Africa over rising xenophobic tensions is expected to arrive in Accra on Wednesday, May 27.
Speaking in an interview with DW Africa, the High Commissioner said Ghanaian and South African authorities were currently conducting screening and verification exercises to finalise the list of evacuees for the first flight.
According to him, officials are working to process between 200 and 300 Ghanaians who have registered to return home amid growing concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in parts of South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks.
Mr Quashie disclosed that the first evacuation flight would carry about 300 passengers, with two additional flights already planned to transport more Ghanaians who have expressed interest in returning to Ghana.
He explained that the evacuation exercise had been expanded after authorities recorded a much higher number of requests from Ghanaians seeking repatriation than initially expected.
The first evacuation exercise was originally scheduled to begin on May 21 but was postponed to allow officials to complete additional arrangements and accommodate the increasing number of registered evacuees.
Mr Quashie assured that government remained committed to ensuring the safe return of all Ghanaian nationals willing to leave South Africa due to the current tensions.
