Ghana is set to evacuate another 1,000 of its citizens from South Africa following escalating anti-migrant protests and violence in parts of the country.
The Ghanaian government said the return of the migrant workers would begin on Sunday and Monday, describing the exercise as the final phase of its evacuation efforts.
So far, 926 Ghanaians have reportedly been repatriated from South Africa, amid growing concerns over attacks targeting migrants.
The Ghanaian Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued late Saturday, said special flights carrying the affected citizens would arrive in Ghana during the two-day operation.
The development comes as Ghanaian President John Mahama continues to pressure the African Union to address the situation, urging the continental body to place the alleged xenophobic attacks on its agenda.
Mahama has accused the South African government of failing to do enough to protect foreign nationals from violence.
The latest evacuation follows reports that more than 160,000 foreign nationals have left South Africa in the past two months as hostility towards undocumented migrants intensified.
The returnees reportedly include citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho and Uganda.
At least four migrants have reportedly died in the unrest, according to South African authorities, although some foreign governments have cited higher figures among their nationals.
The protests have largely been driven by vigilante groups accusing undocumented migrants of taking jobs and contributing to crime. However, analysts argue that foreigners are being scapegoated for wider economic and governance problems, including unemployment and inadequate public services.
Ghana had earlier postponed a planned visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and joined Nigeria in calling for the issue, described by both countries as “Afrophobia,” to be discussed at the next African Union summit.
