How Ghana dodged South Africa’s $18m repatriation bill

Ghana has avoided a potential bill from South Africa for the repatriation of migrants after choosing to evacuate its nationals independently during recent xenophobic attacks.

South Africa is seeking reimbursement from five African countries for part of the costs it incurred housing and transporting migrants who wanted to return home.

Ghana is not among the countries being asked to pay, according to Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs says it spent nearly $18m (£13.6m) on the repatriation exercise and has written to Nigeria, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique seeking reimbursement.

More than 1,600 Ghanaians were evacuated from South Africa through a combination of chartered and commercial flights.

The exercise was funded by the Ghanaian government, with support from some private businesses.

Each returnee received a reintegration allowance, transport fare and other relief items after arriving at Accra International Airport.

Ghana declined South African support

Sources say South African authorities offered to assist Ghana with the evacuation of its citizens, but the Ghanaian government chose to take responsibility for the exercise itself.

The decision came after xenophobic attacks in parts of South Africa raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals.

Ghana was among the first countries to evacuate its citizens, with the government saying the operation was aimed at protecting Ghanaians caught up in the unrest.

The swift evacuation has been welcomed by some Ghanaians, who said it helped protect citizens and reduce the risks posed by the violence.

South Africa seeks repayment

The scale of South Africa's repatriation costs was outlined during a briefing to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on Wednesday, August 12.

South African officials said a significant proportion of the nearly $18m spent went towards hiring buses to transport migrants.

Other costs included temporary repatriation facilities, staff overtime, food and other operational expenses.

Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode said the affected countries had provided some assistance, but South Africa had ultimately carried most of the financial burden.

"Letters have been sent to the embassies of these countries awaiting response," he told the committee.

South Africa is now seeking to recover part of the expenditure from the five countries.

Ghana's decision to organise and finance its own evacuation means it has been left outside the reimbursement effort.