By Patrick Biddah
About 200 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals have already secured employment in Ghana.
Of the jobs secured so far, 100 have been provided by mining company Engineers & Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama.
Telecommunications company AirtelTigo has also offered employment opportunities to some of the evacuees.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, made the announcement on Saturday, June 6, 2026, while receiving the second batch of evacuees from South Africa.
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In addition to the job opportunities, the Minister revealed that legal action would be pursued to seek compensation for those who lost businesses and properties, including schools and shops, during the attacks.
Announcing that the final batch of evacuees would arrive on Sunday, June 7, 2026 bringing the total number of returnees to more than 1,000, Mr. Ablakwa said the evacuees remained resilient despite their ordeal.
“The attacks on you by those unguarded elements did not break you.” he stated.
The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, expressed admiration for the evacuees, noting that they have made significant contributions to Ghana’s economy through remittances sent home from abroad.
“If you look at the statistics from last year, Ghanaians in the diaspora set a new remittance record. According to the Bank of Ghana, you sent home $7.8 billion,” he said.
Mr. Ablakwa further highlighted the skills and economic potential of the returnees, adding that screening and registration exercises conducted in collaboration with South African security agencies found no evidence linking any of the evacuees to criminal activity.
A total of 340 evacuees arrived on Saturday aboard a chartered Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who was present at the reception, announced that all evacuees would be registered free of charge under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Naa Momo Lartey, encouraged the returnees to channel the same energy and determination they used to build successful lives in South Africa into helping develop Ghana’s economy.
