Accra, Ghana – June 6, 2026 – Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, urged hundreds of recently repatriated Ghanaian nationals fleeing violence in South Africa to embrace their homeland as a prime investment destination, highlighting that thousands of foreigners, including South Africans, are actively migrating to Ghana for economic opportunities.
The minister delivered this encouraging message on Saturday night at the Accra International Airport as he welcomed the second group of 345 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa due to escalating anti-immigrant violence. This repatriation exercise underscores a concerning trend of xenophobia abroad while revealing Ghana’s growing economic appeal.
Context of Repatriation and Economic Opportunity
The evacuation was necessitated by a terrifying wave of anti-immigrant street violence and property destruction targeting foreign nationals in South Africa. Many returnees expressed distress over abandoning their businesses, jobs, and possessions, escaping with only their lives.
Minister Ablakwa engaged with the visibly shaken evacuees, reframing their return not as a setback, but as a significant chance to reinvest their skills and capital into Ghana’s burgeoning domestic market. He emphasized that this market is already attracting considerable interest from international investors and regional peers.
Statistics Underscoring Ghana’s Appeal
To counter any feelings of national inferiority, Mr. Ablakwa presented compelling immigration statistics. He revealed that official data indicates over 10,000 South Africans have already visited Ghana, with many seeking to establish businesses and invest.
Leave a Reply