The first batch of 300 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks touched down safely at the Accra International Airport yesterday, leaving behind what some described as “beastly” acts of violence and intimidation.
It was an emotional scene at the airport as some of the returnees broke down in tears after arriving home from the traumatic ordeal.
One Ghanaian woman could not hold back her emotions as she recounted the suffering they endured in South Africa.
The evacuees arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight after departing O.R. Tambo International Airport on May 26, 2026.
They were received by a high-level government delegation led by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, among others.
Videos circulating on social media captured the moment the aircraft landed, with security officials assisting passengers as some of the victims shared chilling accounts of the attacks.
“As I speak now, I have a bullet lodged in my spine due to a hijacking incident in South Africa. We want to say thank you for taking us out of the lion’s den. We thank God for our saviour, President Mahama,” one returnee stated.
Another evacuee expressed relief after arriving safely in Ghana, saying: “Once I am home, I am very safe and happy.”
One of the victims, Bernice Diana Akuffo, 42, a Ghanaian hairdresser, was reportedly left fighting for her life after suffering a brutal attack in Johannesburg amid the renewed wave of xenophobic violence.
Ms Akuffo, who has lived in South Africa for more than two decades, was allegedly confronted by a group of hoodlums while going about her daily business.
According to family sources, the attackers demanded that she leave the country before assaulting her with sharp weapons, leaving her with severe facial and body injuries.
She was later rescued following the intervention of Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria after a distress call was made. Her son subsequently petitioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure her evacuation back to Ghana.
Ms Akuffo is among several Ghanaians said to be living in fear following recent attacks targeting African migrants in parts of South Africa.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, assured the victims and other affected citizens of government’s commitment to protecting and evacuating Ghanaians stranded in the troubled areas.
Addressing the returnees at the airport on Wednesday, May 27, Mr Ablakwa urged them not to lose hope, assuring them that government had put measures in place to support their reintegration into society.
“We don’t want any of you to feel brokenhearted. Don’t be downhearted, don’t be depressed. Have confidence that the Almighty has better plans for you,” he told the evacuees.
The Minister further disclosed that the returnees would benefit from several government social intervention programmes, including MahamaCare, the 24-Hour Economy initiative, the Women’s Development Bank, and the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC).
According to him, government would ensure that the returnees are considered for the various interventions to help them rebuild their lives.
