High Commission admits errors in SA evacuation records, insists procedures were followed

The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has explained discrepancies in the records of 15 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa, saying passport expiry dates were mistakenly entered as dates of birth during data processing.

The clarification follows a JoyNews data analysis programme that raised questions about government payments of reintegration and transportation allowances to individuals whose recorded birth dates appeared to be in the future.

In a statement dated Monday, October 19, 2026, the Commission said the errors affected 15 of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa.

It acknowledged responsibility for the mistakes but maintained that they did not compromise the identities of the affected individuals or invalidate their participation in the exercise.

“The High Commission takes responsibility for the minor clerical errors which affects only 15 individuals out of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated. It is worth pointing out that it is not unusual in such emergency and traumatic circumstances involving the sudden evacuation of thousands of distressed Ghanaians.”

The Commission explained that the discrepancies arose when officials transcribed passport details into the evacuation records.

“Our verification of the records indicate that the dates interpreted as dates of birth were, in fact, passport expiry dates.”

It further maintained that all evacuees completed the required identification, data-processing and departure formalities before leaving South Africa.

The High Commission said it had supplied amended information on the 15 individuals to facilitate corrections to official records and provide accurate information to the public.

The individuals include footballers James Akoto Baffour and Philimon Opoku Nsiah, hairdressers Precious Sekyiwaa and Rebecca Agyiwaa Opoku, and barber Emmanuel Ampomah.

Others listed are Philip Oduro, Victoria Eduaquah, Prince Obeng Boateng, Ebenezer Losu, Akua Brifoh, Rose Pokua, Thomas Nkrumah, Rita Acouah, Rashid Abubakar and David Botwey.

The Commission also clarified that the Jibril family, comprising a mother and five children, travelled on Emergency Travel Certificates, as indicated in the amended records.

It said the corrected details confirmed the identities of the affected individuals and their corresponding travel documentation.

Addressing questions about the allowances paid to the evacuees, the Commission said the errors did not invalidate the payments.

“However, these minor clerical errors do not invalidate the identities of the evacuees, their participation in the evacuation exercise, or the fact that they received the approved reintegration and transportation allowances.”

The evacuation exercise ran from May 27 to September 4, 2026, following renewed xenophobic attacks and intimidation against foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly in Durban and other areas. The final batch of 41 Ghanaians arrived in the country on September 4.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that the exercise cost GH¢49.72 million, comprising GH¢33.72 million in direct government funding and GH¢16 million contributed by Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama. Each evacuee was entitled to a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 transport allowance.

The expenditure has come under scrutiny from the NPP Minority Caucus, which on October 11 called for an independent audit after alleging discrepancies in payment registers and flight records supplied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Minority claimed that only 824 names could be matched across the registers for reintegration and transport allowances, and estimated that GH¢16.42 million required further reconciliation.

The Majority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee rejected the allegations, insisting that the expenditure was documented and all 1,964 evacuees were accounted for.

The Commission urged journalists and the public to consult official sources when discrepancies emerge in administrative records.