Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quarshie, has announced that Ghanaian citizens who were voluntarily evacuated via state-chartered flights face a compulsory ten-year ban from returning to South Africa.
He explicitly stated that returnees who knowingly attempt to travel back will receive no rescue or assistance from the Ghanaian government.
This agreement is strictly governed by South African immigration rules regarding voluntary repatriation, which are automatically enforced once a citizen’s fingerprints are processed and logged during the departure exercise.
High Commissioner Quarshie emphasized that this bilateral agreement makes it impossible for evacuees to legally return to South Africa anytime soon.
Crucially, the diplomat noted that the agreement also provided amnesty to individuals who had committed crimes but were willing to return to Ghana.
He explained that due to this diplomatic arrangement, no one was arrested during the evacuation process. During screening, all those found to have committed offenses were pardoned.
However, he warned against trying to bypass the system by obtaining a new passport or attempting to re-enter via Zimbabwe or other neighboring countries.
The High Commissioner emphasized that both nations are fulfilling their parts of the agreement, and anyone caught attempting to beat the system will be arrested and face the full rigors of South African immigration law.
Addressing potential violators directly, Quarshie warned, “So those of you who have that mindset, think about it again. If that’s what you want to do, then stay, because if you return to South Africa, we will not come to your rescue.”
Meanwhile, Agya Prince, also known as Kontonkyi, a Ghanaian citizen residing in South Africa, reiterated the severe risks involved.
He claimed that anyone planning to return to South Africa illegally could be thrown into jail for ten years without an opportunity for a standard legal defense. He urged evacuated citizens not to return, cautioning that South African prisons are inhumane and that foreign nationals held in these facilities are treated poorly.
Reflecting on the situation on the ground, Kontonkyi noted that many undocumented Ghanaians struggle and become stranded in South Africa.
He revealed that several of the evacuees had been deceived by false promises of lucrative job opportunities, only to find themselves hopeless upon arrival, ultimately using the voluntary evacuation as a lifeline to return home.
He concluded with a stern warning that those who were evacuated face a severe ban and that breaching this protocol will result in facing the absolute rigors of the law.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana