A viral video of an alleged assault on a Ghanaian national, Emmanuel Asamoah, in South Africa, sparked a flurry of activity on social media. The video comes against the backdrop of recent tensions involving foreign nationals in the country. Ghana’s Foreign Ministry said it plans to evacuate more than 800 of its registered citizens back home to ensure their peace of mind amid rising safety concerns.
Why the wait?
The official evacuation process was set to start on May 21 but has been delayed a few days. The Foreign Ministry of Ghana stated that strict compliance with legal clearance procedures is necessary for the movement of large groups of people. Both countries have to coordinate important tasks like mandatory passenger screening, multi-institutional paperwork, and getting official flight permits. Despite all the government’s preparations, journalists at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport reported that only one citizen arrived at the departure point on May 21. Both Ghanaian and South African authorities have agreed to work closely to accelerate these processes. Ghana has pledged to offer a full reintegration package, which includes financial aid and psychosocial counselling to assist those returning home.
The Greater Continental Effect
This situation has reignited important discussions across the continent about migration and the safety of citizens living abroad. Ghana has been spearheading efforts to bring these challenges to a wider diplomatic platform, raising the issues at African Union (AU) meetings. Ghanaian officials have argued that the frequent conflicts in the region could affect aspirations for continental integration and free movement regimes such as the African Continental Free Trade Area. Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has formally filed a request to place these migrant issues on the agenda of the upcoming AU mid-year meeting. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reassured international partners that the state values unity, saying law enforcement is tackling the issue and there is absolutely no room for intolerance or violence in South Africa.
