The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has acknowledged clerical errors in the records of 15 Ghanaians evacuated from the country, following concerns raised over discrepancies in their dates of birth and eligibility records for government-funded allowances.

In a statement issued on October 19, 2026, the Commission explained that the errors resulted from the incorrect transcription of passport information by officials, which led to passport expiry dates being entered as dates of birth.

It said the discrepancies affected only 15 of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa and accepted responsibility for the mistakes.

According to the Commission, the errors did not affect the identities of the individuals involved, their participation in the evacuation exercise or their entitlement to the approved reintegration and transportation allowances.

The High Commission maintained that all evacuees completed the necessary identification, data-processing and departure procedures before leaving South Africa.

It subsequently released corrected information for the 15 affected individuals to facilitate amendments to the records and ensure accurate public reporting.

The Commission also clarified that a family of six, comprising a mother and her five children, travelled using Emergency Travel Certificates. The family, identified as the Jibril family, was included in an amended list to reflect the correct travel documentation.

The statement said the corrected records confirmed the identities of the individuals concerned and the travel documents they used during the evacuation.

The clarification follows a data analysis that raised questions about inconsistencies in the records of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa, particularly regarding individuals whose recorded dates of birth appeared to fall in the future and payments made under the exercise.

The High Commission said it recognised the media's role in promoting transparency and accountability and urged journalists to seek clarification from the appropriate authorities whenever discrepancies arise in official records.

It reaffirmed its commitment to the evacuation exercise, expressing pride in the efforts and sacrifices made to protect Ghanaians and facilitate their safe return home.

The Commission further assured the public and the media of its readiness to provide additional information and encouraged reliance on verified and corrected records.

AM

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