Ghana Delays Evacuation of 800 Citizens from South Africa After Viral Assault Video Sparks Outrage

Ghana has deferred the evacuation of more than 800 of its citizens from South Africa after a viral video showing the alleged assault of Emmanuel Asamoah, a Ghanaian living in Johannesburg, circulated widely on social media. The footage triggered outrage and intensified pressure on President John Dramani Mahama's administration to act swiftly during the latest wave of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals.

The first batch of 300 evacuees was scheduled to depart through O.R. Tambo International Airport at 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, but the flight never materialised. Journalists at the airport reported that only one registered evacuee arrived at the departure point.

Why the evacuation stalled

Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration confirmed the delay stems from mandatory passenger screening processes, flight clearance requirements, and extensive coordination between civil aviation and immigration authorities in both countries. "Considering the numbers involved and the South African legal conditions that have to be met," the ministry said in a statement, the evacuation "has been deferred by a few days."

Ghana's High Commission in Pretoria is currently processing paperwork for the 800-plus citizens who registered for evacuation. Officials specified that the first flight will prioritise 300 highly vulnerable individuals once all regulatory hurdles are cleared. Both governments have pledged to accelerate pre-evacuation procedures.

What triggered the crisis

The evacuation plan, approved by President Mahama on May 12, follows a fresh surge in xenophobic attacks across South African communities. The assault on Asamoah—who has since returned safely to Ghana—became the flashpoint. Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that affected citizens who had registered with the High Commission would be evacuated at state expense and offered a reintegration financial package and psycho-social support upon arrival.

South Africa has experienced recurring waves of violence against migrants from Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, and Ethiopia, often driven by local economic pressures and scapegoating of foreign workers.

What comes next

The revised flight schedule is expected once South African aviation authorities grant final runway slots. Ghana has formally requested that xenophobic violence against Africans be placed on the agenda at the African Union's mid-year summit next month. Minister Ablakwa has argued that the recurring attacks threaten African integration ambitions and undermine frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The airlift remains a test of whether pan-African solidarity can translate into swift, practical action on the ground—or whether bureaucratic clearances will continue to strand citizens caught in crisis.

Reporting drawn from Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ghanamma, Citizen Digital Kenya, Adom Online, Sahara Reporters, Commonwealth Union.