Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa have expressed concern over what they describe as public humiliation and unfair treatment following controversy surrounding the government’s evacuation exercise.
They have also appealed to the government to help bring home 46 Ghanaians who remain stranded in South Africa.
The leader of the Aggrieved South Africa Evacuees, Michael Addo, said the ongoing public debate over the evacuation has increased the emotional distress of returnees who are still recovering from their difficult experiences abroad.
According to him, the public criticism and allegations surrounding the exercise have made some evacuees uncomfortable about seeking further assistance from the government for their fellow Ghanaians who remain in South Africa.
Mr Addo explained that the 46 stranded Ghanaians were expected to be part of the evacuation exercise but have yet to return home.
He appealed to the public and the media to consider the difficulties faced by the returnees and support efforts to bring those still stranded back to Ghana.
The concerns come amid public scrutiny of the government’s reported GH¢49.72 million expenditure on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks and intimidation.
The evacuees have defended the government’s intervention, saying the exercise provided much-needed assistance to Ghanaians who were facing difficult circumstances abroad.
They have also maintained that the dignity and well-being of the returnees should be protected while questions about the expenditure are addressed.
Mr Addo stressed that accountability and transparency should not result in the public humiliation of people who have experienced hardship.
He further urged the government to continue assisting Ghanaians stranded in South Africa and other countries who lack the financial means to return home.
The appeal has renewed calls for support for vulnerable Ghanaians abroad, with the evacuees insisting that the remaining 46 citizens should not be left behind.
They say bringing the stranded Ghanaians home should remain a priority while the country continues discussions about the evacuation exercise.
