Ghana denies $18m South Africa bill over evacuation of citizens | Ghanaguardian. com
The Government of Ghana has rejected reports that it could be asked to repay South Africa about $18m for the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals following recent xenophobic attacks. Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the repatriation operation had been paid for entirely by the Ghanaian government and Ghanaian partners, with no financial or material assistance
The Government of Ghana has rejected reports that it could be asked to repay South Africa about $18m for the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals following recent xenophobic attacks. Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the repatriation operation had been paid for entirely by the Ghanaian government and Ghanaian partners, with no financial or material assistance requested from South Africa. “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, 2026. The statement was released after reports claimed that South Africa was seeking reimbursement from several African countries. The reported sum was said to cover support and facilitation provided during the evacuation of their nationals. However, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that the country had not relied on South African government funding or resources to bring its citizens home. The Ministry said Ghana “did not seek any financial or material support from the South African Government to bring our fellow nationals back home. ”It also said the latest phase of the evacuation programme was being funded solely by Ghana, with the government and its Ghanaian partners meeting the full cost. More than 1,600 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa since May 2026, according to the Ministry. The operation remains under way, meaning further Ghanaian nationals are still being brought home as part of the continuing exercise. Ghana’s assistance does not end when evacuees arrive in the country. The government said returnees were being provided with reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items to support them after their arrival. The Ministry sought to reassure Ghanaian citizens that the country would not be included among those being asked by South Africa to repay repatriation expenses. “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 Ministry said. The government also restated its commitment to protecting Ghanaian nationals living abroad and responding when their safety or security is threatened. It said it would continue to take “timely and decisive action” whenever the welfare of Ghanaians overseas was at risk, regardless of the cost involved. The Ministry’s response therefore directly disputes claims that Ghana faces an $18m liability connected to the evacuation. It maintains that the country’s repatriation arrangements, including the current phase of the operation and support provided to returnees, have been fully financed by Ghana and its local partners.