Ghanaians who remain stranded in South Africa after missing the government’s voluntary evacuation exercise are appealing for a second opportunity to return home, citing worsening living conditions and loss of livelihoods amid renewed xenophobic attacks.
The appeal comes after the government ended the evacuation programme following the arrival of the final batch of 41 Ghanaians in Ghana on September 4, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,964.
Some citizens who remain in South Africa, however, say the end of the exercise has left them with few options as they continue to lose jobs, businesses and accommodation.
Margaret Amenuvegbe, one of the affected Ghanaians, said she and others had initially registered to participate in the evacuation but did not complete the screening process after receiving reports of overcrowding and inadequate accommodation at evacuation centres.
She said the reports discouraged some potential returnees from proceeding, despite their determination to leave South Africa.
“We wanted to come. We were ready to come because they even chased us from where we were working and then where we were sleeping,” she said in an interview with Citi FM on Monday, September 7, 2026.
Ms Amenuvegbe said four adults and four children in her immediate group were hoping to return to Ghana, while several other Ghanaians were also facing similar difficulties.
She said she had spent 14 years in South Africa, where she worked as a hairdresser, but immigration-related challenges eventually forced her to stop working.
According to her, the situation has become particularly difficult for Ghanaians without valid work permits, many of whom are struggling to maintain their livelihoods and secure accommodation.
The stranded citizens are therefore urging the government to reconsider the closure of the evacuation exercise and create another opportunity for those still in distress to return.
Their appeal comes after nearly 2,000 Ghanaians had already been assisted to return through the exercise, highlighting the scale of the government’s response to the challenges confronting its nationals in South Africa.
Ms Amenuvegbe said those who missed the earlier process should not be left behind, particularly as their circumstances continue to deteriorate.
She appealed to the government to reopen the voluntary evacuation programme to enable affected citizens who are willing to return to Ghana to do so safely.
