Hundreds of Ghanaian nationals currently residing in South Africa are reportedly facing severe humanitarian conditions and alleged targeted attacks following a recent government-led evacuation exercise.
Speaking in an interview on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s flagship news programme, Nyankonton Mu Nsem, a Ghanaian in South Africa, Agya Prince—popularly known as Kontonkyi—disclosed that approximately 800 Ghanaians are currently seeking refuge under harsh conditions at a Pentecost Church premises.
According to Kontonkyi, the displaced individuals have been living at the church location for the past two months.
The situation has grown increasingly tense, with local South African police allegedly tracking down and arresting members of the group.
In a series of troubling allegations, Kontonkyi stated that the affected Ghanaians have had their names and legal records systematically removed from official South African databases.
The consequences of this alleged de-registration have left the stranded citizens highly vulnerable, rendering them unable to legally reside in the country, access basic healthcare services, or seek formal employment.
Furthermore, the affected individuals now face an imminent risk of criminal prosecution for illegal stay.
The current crisis reportedly stems from a diplomatic and social backlash following an earlier evacuation exercise organised by the Ghanaian government.
The stranded nationals claim that the partial evacuation inadvertently created an international public relations crisis.
They allege that local sentiments have shifted dramatically against them, with some South African communities and authorities now viewing Ghana under a negative lens.
“To worsen our plight, some South Africans are actively tormenting and targeting us,” Kontonkyi told the station, adding that the community feels completely abandoned and exposed to ongoing hostility.
The stranded citizens are making an urgent appeal to the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant international humanitarian bodies to intervene swiftly before the situation escalates further.
”I am pleading with the government to do everything humanly possible to evacuate the remaining number of citizens here, even if it requires securing a loan to fund the operation. We have innocent children among us who are suffering through these hostile conditions every single day,” Prince stated.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
