The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed gratitude to the Chairman and the entire congregation of The Church of Pentecost for providing shelter and support to more than 500 Ghanaians who fled xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ablakwa said the church’s intervention had helped protect the affected Ghanaians from harm while they awaited government assistance.

The church provided free accommodation, clothing and meals for the stranded Ghanaians for more than two months.

The government subsequently commenced the second phase of a voluntary repatriation exercise following continued calls for assistance from stranded citizens.

So far, more than 600 people have been evacuated through commercial flights, bringing the total number of Ghanaians repatriated since June to more than 1,600.

Ablakwa said more Ghanaians would be evacuated in the coming days before the conclusion of the second phase of the exercise.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, called for greater collaboration between the church and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen support for Ghanaians who find themselves in crisis situations abroad.

He said the church could serve as a first responder, particularly in countries where Ghana does not currently have a diplomatic mission.

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