The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent GH¢27.18 million on chartered flights, the single largest expenditure item in the government’s GH¢49.72 million evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa following a resurgence of xenophobic attacks.

Documents in the possession of GhanaWeb show that GH¢27,183,700 was spent on chartered flights as part of the evacuation exercise, which brought 1,964 Ghanaians back to Ghana between May 27 and September 4, 2026.

The figure represents more than half of the total cost of the operation.

A further GH¢9,420,463.68 was spent on flight tickets and layover expenses, bringing expenditure directly associated with air transportation to more than GH¢36.6 million.

The remaining expenditure covered various emergency support services and logistics required to complete the operation.

According to the documents available to GhanaWeb, GH¢997,644 was spent on ground transportation in South Africa, while GH¢634,349.99 went towards feeding.

Hotel accommodation accounted for GH¢141,797.86, with GH¢20,148 spent on medical services and hospitalisation.

The operation also incurred GH¢153,728.09 in communication costs. The expenditure covered airtime and internet data for community outreach, as well as the establishment of an evacuation centre used to coordinate the movement of returnees to the airport.

Printing cost GH¢98,151 and covered directional signage and passport-sized photographs required for emergency travel certificates.

Another GH¢162,917.76 was spent on logistics, including the rental of chairs and tables for screening exercises, mobile toilets, fumigation of the Chancery, cleaning and refuse collection, hand-washing basins and luggage weighing scales.

The repatriation and autopsy of two mortal remains cost GH¢84,274, while GH¢22,610.84 was recorded under miscellaneous expenditure.

GH¢10.8m spent on reintegration, transport allowances

One of the largest expenditure categories after air transportation was the GH¢10.802 million spent on reintegration and transportation allowances.

Each evacuee received a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 travel and transportation allowance, amounting to GH¢5,500 per person.

The government said the payments were intended to help returnees settle after their arrival and provide immediate support following their experiences in South Africa.

The official account also states that psychologists and trauma counsellors were deployed to provide support to returnees upon arrival and in their communities.

The returnees additionally received free medical screening, National Health Insurance registration, SIM cards loaded with data and airtime, and food packages.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), NADMO and the Red Cross also provided psychosocial support, logistics, hot meals and water, while the Church of Pentecost provided accommodation for affected Ghanaians in Pretoria, Kempton Park and Johannesburg.

Engineers and Planners contributed GH¢16m

The Government of Ghana financed GH¢33,721,786, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, contributed GH¢16 million towards the operation.

The government has said the entire evacuation bill has been settled and that there are no outstanding liabilities.

Operation concluded after four months

The evacuation began on May 27, with the initial flights prioritising vulnerable groups, including children, sick people, older persons and women.

The final batch of 41 evacuees arrived in Accra on September 4, 2026, bringing the operation to a close.

The government has described the evacuation as an emergency response to deteriorating security conditions and anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of South Africa.

The detailed expenditure comes as Parliament’s Minority seeks documentary evidence to support the government’s financial account.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also requested a special audit of government evacuation exercises from 2017 to date, including the COVID-19, Ukraine, Sudan and South Africa operations.

The documents in the possession of GhanaWeb provide a detailed breakdown of how the GH¢49.72 million South Africa evacuation bill was incurred, including expenditure on air transportation, reintegration, logistics and other emergency support.

See the detailed breakdown below: