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Ghanaians flee xenophobic South Africa
2 hrs ago |
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South Africa's Border Management Authority (BMA) has successfully processed the repatriation of 663 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa to Ghana through OR Tambo International Airport over the weekend.
The operation was coordinated through the Port Management Committee (PMC), a multi-agency structure comprising government stakeholders responsible for ensuring the lawful and orderly movement of people through ports of entry.
According to the BMA, the first group of 332 Ghanaian nationals arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday after being transported by the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria for repatriation.
Following an extensive check-in process, the travellers proceeded to immigration facilities where officials conducted verification and clearance procedures before departure.
"The travellers were processed through BMA Immigration for verification and clearance," the authority said in a statement.
Of the 332 travellers processed on Saturday, 170 were travelling on ordinary Ghanaian passports, while 162 were using Emergency Travel Certificates issued by the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria.
The BMA explained that Emergency Travel Certificates are single-use travel documents issued to facilitate the return of citizens to their country of origin when they do not possess valid passports.
During the immigration screening process, authorities found that 321 of the travellers had overstayed their authorised period of stay in South Africa by 30 days or more.
As a result, they were declared undesirable in terms of Section 30 of the Immigration Act, read together with Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations.
The declaration means that the affected individuals may face restrictions on re-entering South Africa for a specified period, in accordance with the country's immigration laws.
The weekend repatriation forms part of ongoing efforts by South African authorities and foreign diplomatic missions to regularise the status of foreign nationals and facilitate voluntary returns where necessary.
The BMA said the operation was conducted in an orderly manner and highlighted the importance of cooperation between government departments and diplomatic missions in managing migration processes effectively.
The successful repatriation of the 663 Ghanaian nationals underscores the growing role of coordinated immigration management and international cooperation in addressing migration-related challenges across the region.
The operation was coordinated through the Port Management Committee (PMC), a multi-agency structure comprising government stakeholders responsible for ensuring the lawful and orderly movement of people through ports of entry.
According to the BMA, the first group of 332 Ghanaian nationals arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday after being transported by the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria for repatriation.
Following an extensive check-in process, the travellers proceeded to immigration facilities where officials conducted verification and clearance procedures before departure.
"The travellers were processed through BMA Immigration for verification and clearance," the authority said in a statement.
Of the 332 travellers processed on Saturday, 170 were travelling on ordinary Ghanaian passports, while 162 were using Emergency Travel Certificates issued by the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria.
The BMA explained that Emergency Travel Certificates are single-use travel documents issued to facilitate the return of citizens to their country of origin when they do not possess valid passports.
During the immigration screening process, authorities found that 321 of the travellers had overstayed their authorised period of stay in South Africa by 30 days or more.
As a result, they were declared undesirable in terms of Section 30 of the Immigration Act, read together with Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations.
The declaration means that the affected individuals may face restrictions on re-entering South Africa for a specified period, in accordance with the country's immigration laws.
The weekend repatriation forms part of ongoing efforts by South African authorities and foreign diplomatic missions to regularise the status of foreign nationals and facilitate voluntary returns where necessary.
The BMA said the operation was conducted in an orderly manner and highlighted the importance of cooperation between government departments and diplomatic missions in managing migration processes effectively.
The successful repatriation of the 663 Ghanaian nationals underscores the growing role of coordinated immigration management and international cooperation in addressing migration-related challenges across the region.
Source - Byo24News
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