The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured Ghanaians that the government remains prepared to evacuate citizens from South Africa should security conditions deteriorate and threaten their safety.
Speaking in a one-on-one interview on TV3’s Key Points programme on October 10, 2026, Mr Ablakwa said the conclusion of the recent evacuation exercise does not mean Ghana has closed the door to future interventions if circumstances require.
His comments were in response to concerns over renewed tensions in South Africa following developments arising from a recent ruling by the country’s apex court on the rights of asylum seekers and whether Ghana would consider another round of evacuations.
The Minister explained that the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau (COHAB) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to closely monitor the welfare of Ghanaians abroad and remains on alert to respond to distress situations.
“The Consular and Humanitarian Bureau of the Foreign Ministry continues to be active and continues to assess every situation, particularly situations involving Ghanaians in distress,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa noted that consular protection remains one of the Ministry’s key priorities and assured that authorities are committed to safeguarding Ghanaian citizens wherever they may be.
“Even though the recent evacuations from South Africa have been concluded and accounted for to the Ghanaian public, it does not mean that if we have another wave of attacks, a deterioration of the situation, and there are Ghanaians who need assistance, the door is shut and we will not move in,” he stated.
To underscore the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens overseas, the Minister revealed that Ghana has carried out several evacuation operations in recent months beyond South Africa.
According to him, the country has successfully evacuated Ghanaians from Libya, Myanmar and Cambodia, bringing the total number of citizens evacuated from various distress situations worldwide to more than 6,300 since last year.
He said these interventions demonstrate government’s resolve to provide timely assistance to citizens facing danger abroad.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that the Ministry’s Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau, together with Ghana’s 72 diplomatic missions around the world, remains vigilant in monitoring developments within their jurisdictions and areas of concurrent accreditation.
He explained that diplomatic missions have been tasked with closely tracking the welfare of Ghanaians in their respective locations and reporting situations that may require intervention.
The Minister reiterated that government would not hesitate to act whenever the safety of Ghanaian citizens is at risk.
“If we have to step in and intervene and bring our nationals back home to safety, we will do that swiftly,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to its consular responsibilities and pledged continued efforts to ensure the protection and welfare of Ghanaians living, studying and working abroad.