The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has admitted clerical errors in the records of 15 people evacuated from the country, following a JoyNews data analysis that raised questions about the payment of reintegration and transportation allowances to individuals whose recorded dates of birth appeared to be in the future.
In a press statement dated October 19, 2026, the High Commission said the discrepancies affected 15 of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa, attributing the errors to the transcription of passport details by its officials.
The mission explained that dates initially interpreted as dates of birth were, in fact, passport expiry dates, resulting in apparent inconsistencies in the records.
It nevertheless maintained that the errors did not invalidate the identities of the individuals concerned, their participation in the evacuation exercise or their receipt of approved reintegration and transportation allowances.
“The High Commission takes responsibility for the minor clerical errors which affects only 15 individuals out of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated,” the statement said, adding that such errors were not unusual during emergency operations involving the sudden evacuation of large numbers of distressed citizens.
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The clarification follows a JoyNews data analysis that questioned the accuracy of information relating to some beneficiaries of the government-led evacuation exercise.
The High Commission said all Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa underwent the required identification, data-processing and departure formalities before leaving the country.
It also provided corrected details for the 15 individuals to facilitate updates to the relevant records and ensure that the public was accurately informed.
Among those listed were footballers James Akoto Baffour and Philimon Opoku Nsiah, hairdressers Precious Sekyiwaa and Rebecca Agyiwaa Opoku, and other individuals identified in the amended records.
The mission further clarified that the Jibril family, comprising six people, including a mother and five children, travelled on Emergency Travel Certificates, as reflected in the attached amended list.
The High Commission said the corrected information confirmed the identities of the individuals concerned and their corresponding travel documentation.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, urging the media and the public to verify apparent discrepancies in administrative records with appropriate official sources.
The statement added that the mission remained available to provide further clarification on the evacuation exercise.
The admission places renewed attention on the accuracy of records maintained during emergency government operations, particularly where public funds are involved. While the High Commission attributes the discrepancies to clerical errors, the corrected records are expected to help resolve questions surrounding the identities and travel documentation of the affected evacuees.
