Ghanaians still stranded in South Africa have appealed to the government to reopen and extend its voluntary evacuation programme, saying they are struggling to survive after losing their jobs, businesses and accommodation amid reported xenophobic attacks.

The appeal follows the government’s decision to end the evacuation exercise after the final batch of 41 Ghanaians arrived in Ghana on September 4, 2026, bringing the total number of people evacuated to 1,964.

However, some Ghanaians who remain in South Africa say they are facing severe difficulties and want the government to give them another opportunity to return home.

One of the stranded Ghanaians, Margaret Amenuvegbe, told Eyewitness News on Monday, September 7, that she and others had initially registered for the evacuation but did not proceed to the screening stage because of concerns about the conditions at the evacuation centres.

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According to her, reports that some returnees were struggling to secure accommodation discouraged her group from completing the process.

“We came after the screening. We were supposed to register to come home. We did the registration but we didn’t come for the screening,” citinewsroom.com quoted her to have said.

She said they had heard that the evacuation centres were overcrowded and that some Ghanaians who had already sought assistance were forced to sleep at a church.

“We heard that the place was so crowded, and then there’s nowhere to sleep,” she said.

Despite those concerns, Amenuvegbe said circumstances had since deteriorated, with some Ghanaians losing their sources of income and places of residence.

“We wanted to come. We were ready to come because they even chased us from where we were working and then where we were sleeping,” she said.

She disclosed that four adults and four children in her immediate group are hoping to return to Ghana, while many other Ghanaians are also facing similar challenges.

Amenuvegbe, who has lived in South Africa for 14 years and previously worked as a hairdresser, said difficulties obtaining valid work documentation had also affected her ability to earn a living.

“When you apply for any paper, they don’t issue it. Even if you show it to them, they say, yes, we can see you have a paper but it doesn’t allow you to work,” she said.

She added that some Ghanaians had lost their businesses and accommodation, leaving them without reliable income or proper shelter.

“It’s like everything is just we are desperate,” she lamented.

Amenuvegbe said she and some others are currently seeking refuge at a church, where they have been sleeping on the floor.

“We are sleeping on the floor. Even now, the things are getting cooler presently because the weather has changed,” she said.

She is therefore calling on the government to reconsider its decision and extend the evacuation exercise to cover Ghanaians who remain stranded and are willing to return.

“We are on our knees. We are begging. We don’t want anything. The only thing we have to say is that we are on our knees. We are begging,” she appealed.

According to Amenuvegbe, the affected Ghanaians are prepared to leave as soon as arrangements are made for their return.

“Even if they say this night, we are ready to go. This night, this week, we are ready to go,” she added.

The government commenced the voluntary evacuation exercise in May following reports of xenophobic attacks targeting migrants in parts of South Africa.

The initiative was intended to assist affected Ghanaians and facilitate their safe return to the country.

With the arrival of the final batch of 41 returnees on September 4, a total of 1,964 Ghanaians had been evacuated under the programme.

Those still in South Africa, however, are urging the government to reconsider the closure of the exercise, insisting that they remain in urgent need of assistance to return home.

AM

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