Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quarshie, has warned that Ghanaians who choose to be repatriated could face serious immigration consequences if they attempt to return to South Africa afterwards.
Speaking in an interview on June 3 ahead of a planned repatriation exercise involving nearly 700 Ghanaians, Mr. Quarshie said participants must fully understand the implications of the process before making a decision.
He explained that biometric registration is a key requirement of the repatriation exercise, and those who are repatriated will be restricted from re-entering South Africa for a specified period.
“Once your fingerprints are taken during the repatriation process, you cannot return to South Africa. Anyone who does so faces a compulsory 10-year ban,” he cautioned.
The High Commissioner said the measure is in line with South Africa’s immigration regulations governing the voluntary repatriation of foreign nationals.
His comments come ahead of the second phase of Ghana’s repatriation exercise, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
The programme is being coordinated by Ghana’s diplomatic mission in South Africa with support from Ghanaian community organisations.
The exercise is expected to assist nearly 700 Ghanaians who have opted to return home amid growing concerns over xenophobic attacks and the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Mr. Quarshie urged those taking part in the exercise to carefully weigh the long-term consequences before proceeding.
The Ghanaian mission continues to work with community groups and other stakeholders to support affected citizens and ensure a smooth and orderly return to Ghana.
