Leader of the Aggrieved South Africa Evacuees, Michael Addo, has condemned what he describes as the public humiliation of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa, saying the controversy over the exercise has worsened their emotional distress.

He accused sections of the public of turning the returnees’ painful experiences into a subject of ridicule while demanding accountability over the government’s expenditure on the evacuation.

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“While we bravely recover from our trauma and pain, the very society we expect to protect us has reduced our pain to humiliation under the guise of seeking accountability,” he lamented.

His comments come amid public scrutiny of the reported GH¢49.72 million the government spent to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.

Speaking on the matter, he said that 46 Ghanaians who were expected to be part of the evacuation exercise remain stranded in South Africa.

He said the ongoing controversy, particularly on social media, had made it difficult for the group to approach the government for further assistance.

“We have other brothers and sisters who are still over there who are willing to come. Currently, we still have 46 people who were supposed to be on the flight, but because of what is currently spreading on social media, we don’t even have the balls to beg the government to go and rescue them,” he stated.

Addo also accused some members of the Minority, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and sections of the media of attempting to portray the government’s intervention as wrongdoing.

He questioned allegations surrounding financial assistance and relief packages reportedly given to the returnees, arguing that journalists who witnessed their arrival at the airport could attest to their circumstances.

He called for an end to what he described as unfounded attacks on the evacuees and the government.

“We are here to seek answers and demand an immediate end to the baseless attacks on us and the government that was sympathetic towards us,” he declaredite the controversy, Addo expressed gratitude to the government for intervening, noting that many Ghanaians had faced xenophobic attacks in South Africa for years without receiving similar assistance.

“We have experienced xenophobia for many years, but this is the first time a government has taken our plight into account and come to our rescue,” he added.

He maintained that while questions surrounding the evacuation expenditure should be addressed, the process must not undermine the dignity of the returnees, especially as some Ghanaians continue to seek help to return home.



NA/VPO