The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has responded to a JoyNews report regarding data discrepancies in the government’s South Africa evacuation exercise, clarifying that the cited dates of birth were actually passport expiry dates transcription errors.
In a press statement issued in response to the media broadcast, the High Commission accepted responsibility for clerical mistakes that affected 15 evacuees out of a total of 1,964 Ghanaians brought back home. The diplomatic mission explained that such administrative mix-ups are common during high-pressure emergency situations.
According to the High Commission, the erroneous records originated when transcription staff inadvertently recorded passport expiry dates in place of birth dates during the processing of travel documents. The statement emphasised that every evacuee underwent the required identification, data processing, and departure formalities before leaving South Africa.
“Our verification of the records indicate that the dates interpreted as dates of birth were, in fact, passport expiry dates. The High Commission acknowledges that clerical errors may have occurred during the transcription of some passport details by our officials,” the statement read.
The High Commission maintained that these minor errors do not invalidate the identities of the evacuees, their participation in the evacuation exercise, or their eligibility for the approved reintegration and transportation allowances. It also noted that six members of the Jibril family, comprising a mother and five children, traveled using Emergency Travel Certificates.
“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 High Commission stated.
The mission commended the role of the media in encouraging public accountability and urged media organisations and the general public to refer to its corrected records.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
