The government spent GH¢49.72 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.

The amount covered the cost of chartered flights, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical care, reintegration support and the repatriation of the remains of two Ghanaians who died during the crisis.

Providing a detailed breakdown of the expenditure at a media briefing on Monday, September 7, Ablakwa said the government was committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of the evacuation exercise.

He explained that GH¢38.84 million was used to cover chartered flights and tickets, ground transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation in South Africa, as well as medical and hospitalisation expenses.

Another GH¢10.8 million was spent on reintegration and transportation support for the returning Ghanaians.

Under the support package, each of the 1,964 evacuees received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and GH¢500 for transportation, amounting to GH¢5,500 per person.

An additional GH¢84,274 was used to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians who lost their lives during the crisis.

According to the minister, the full GH¢49,721,786 cost of the evacuation has been settled, leaving no outstanding financial obligations.

Ablakwa said the government financed GH¢33.72 million of the total cost, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, contributed GH¢16 million towards the evacuation exercise.

He praised Ibrahim Mahama for the contribution, describing it as significant support for Ghanaians affected by the crisis.

The minister said the government’s assistance extended beyond transporting the evacuees back to Ghana.

Psychologists and trauma counsellors were deployed to support the returnees upon arrival and through follow-up sessions within their communities. Faith-based organisations and civil society groups also provided emotional and spiritual support to help them deal with the trauma associated with the attacks.

The returnees further received free medical screening from Port Health and health insurance registration through the National Health Insurance Authority. Telecommunications companies also provided free SIM cards loaded with data and airtime.

Other forms of support included food packages from the National Buffer Stock Company, as well as psychosocial assistance, logistics, hot meals and water provided by the International Organization for Migration, NADMO and the Red Cross.

Ablakwa also acknowledged the Church of Pentecost for offering free accommodation to some of the Ghanaians in Pretoria, Kempton Park and Johannesburg.

He said the government was now exploring longer-term economic empowerment programmes aimed at helping the returnees rebuild their livelihoods and successfully reintegrate into their communities.