Flashback: Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa with evacuee kids in the planeHolidays & Seasonal Events
A total of 900 Ghanaians who have registered with the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria are expected to be evacuated soon following violent anti-immigrant demonstrations in South Africa, which left one Ghanaian national dead.
While government is yet to announce the date for the evacuation, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, has assured that it will prioritise Ghanaian nationals to ensure they arrive safely when evacuation begins.
Commenting on the fatal shooting of Bashiru Isak, 40, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town on June 30, 2026, Mr. Quarshie indicated that the key witness in the murder has gone into hiding over fears for his life, complicating efforts to prosecute those responsible.Ghana sports news
According to Mr. Quashie, the witness, a Zimbabwean national who had been working alongside the deceased when the incident occurred, has refused to cooperate with investigators out of fear he would be targeted if he testified.
The High Commissioner said the witness is considered crucial to establishing the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“Fortunately, one gentleman, a Zimbabwean who was working with the deceased, was in the shop when the incident happened. We have been told that he is the person we are looking for to become a state witness in the case,” Mr. Quashie said.
“He has also absconded. We’ve tried reaching him, and he has told us that if he comes to testify, he knows his life will be in danger,” he added.Geographic Reference
Mr. Quashie disclosed that lawyers at the Ghana High Commission are in the process of securing witness protection for the man, so he can testify in court.
“The lawyers from the High Commission are working hard with the courts in South Africa so that he can be placed under witness protection and be able to corroborate what happened on that very day,” he stated.
The High Commissioner explained that investigations into the killing have been challenging because many Ghanaians living in Cape Town are reluctant to provide information due to fears for their safety. “When the murder happened, because the High Commission is in Pretoria, we quickly dispatched officers to establish the facts. We found it difficult to get information because many Ghanaians in Cape Town were afraid to come forward,” he said.
The Government of Ghana on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, received the first batch of Ghanaian nationals evacuated from South Africa due to the recent xenophobic attacks.
The evacuees were received on arrival by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson (MP) and senior government officials.
The Chief of Staff assured the evacuees of government’s unwavering commitment to protecting all Ghanaian nationals. He stated that government considered it prudent to ensure their safety by evacuating them due to the challenging environment they found themselves. He further reiterated government’s commitment to supporting all evacuees to facilitate their reintegration.Executive Branch
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke
