Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that Government has earmarked GH¢5,500 to each evacuee from South Africa to help their reintegration into the country.
Part of the amount is also meant to support their transportation to their various hometowns across the country.
Ablakwa, speaking at a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra on Monday, July 27, 2026, explained that the package included a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant, GH¢500 travel and transport allowance alongside relief items from National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration.
According to him, corporate bodies and philanthropic Ghanaians, including business mogul, Ibrahim Mahama, contributed to the evacuation exercise aside government’s commitment, assuring that his outfit would provide full account on the evacuation at the end of the exercise.
The first phase of the evacuation brought home 926 Ghanaians, with the second one expected to bring an estimated 1,000 more.
Also, the Minister said Government was rolling out other reintegration programmes for the evacuees from South Africa, including jobs, skills training, and entrepreneurship support.
The North Tongu lawmaker further indicated that the returnees would be enrolled in a special national database to link them to employment opportunities, entrepreneurship support, skills development, and startup initiatives.
Government has established a multi-agency Presidential Task Force on Reintegration to coordinate the reintegration. The task force brings together the ministries of Employment and Labour Relations, Education, Trade and Industry, Gender and Social Protection, and Local Government for the purpose.
To determine each adult returnee’s professional background, experience and aspirations, Mr. Ablakwa said the task force had begun skills mapping through detailed interviews to assess them.
So far, about 200 jobs, the Minister said, have so far been secured through partnerships with the private sector.
Engineers and Planners Limited has committed 100 positions, while Telecel Ghana, AirtelTigo and other corporate entities have offered opportunities.
“Government believes strongly that no Ghanaian returning home under distressing circumstances should feel abandoned or excluded from national support systems,” the minister stated.
To support mental health, social workers will conduct follow-up visits to the evacuees for six months, while a dedicated helpline has been set up for their use. Government also plans a public awareness campaign to combat stigmatisation of returnees.
He also reiterated Government’s decision to establish a register of claims to pursue legal and diplomatic processes for compensation for returnees who lost businesses and property during the xenophobic attacks.
He added that the telecommunication firms AirtelTigo and Telecel provided SIM registration services plus voice and data for all returnees.
