SA xenophobic attacks: Ghanaians to be evacuated - Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Charles Wiredu has disclosed that Ghanaians in South Africa would be jetted off the country if the xenophobic attack escalates.

He says a fund has been created by the government to enable them to raise enough money to charter an airplane for the affected Ghanaians who will be caught in the xenophobic attack.

Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ program, he explained that they have been following carefully events happening in South Africa and that the government has put in enough measures to ensure that Ghanaians are safe.

“As I’m speaking now the ministry has created emergency offices here in Ghana and South Africa to assist those who will be caught in any crossfire in South Africa,” he said.

According to him their checks show that the situation has been brought under control as they are hoping that total peace would be restored.

He has therefore assured Ghanaians whose relatives are in South Africa to remain calm as government is monitoring affairs in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up dedicated emergency lines for Ghanaians in distress in South Africa.

This follows recent attacks on foreigners in that country.

In a statement, Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa said Ghanaian nationals in distress should contact the mission on telephone number +271-234-258-47/8 for urgent assistance.

In the past few days, rioters have caused chaos in Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial capital, torching vehicles and looting shops, many of which are owned by foreign nationals.

Some South African officials have blamed criminality instead of xenophobia.

South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has condemned the looting and violence that mostly targeted foreign nationals in his country.

"There can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries," he said on Tuesday.

Dozens of people were arrested in Johannesburg on Monday after rioters looted shops and torched vehicles.

Other African governments have issued warnings to their citizens over the violence.

Attacks on businesses run by "foreign nationals are something totally unacceptable, something that we cannot allow to happen in South Africa," Mr. Ramaphosa said in a video posted to Twitter.