The Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, has urged Ghanaians not to politicise the government’s ongoing evacuation of citizens from South Africa amid rising anti-immigrant protests, insisting that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) would have taken the same action if it were in power.
His comments come as the government begins repatriating the first batch of Ghanaians who requested evacuation following escalating xenophobic tensions and security concerns in parts of South Africa.
Speaking on the matter, the Mpraeso MP said the protection of Ghanaian citizens abroad should rise above partisan politics and be treated as a national responsibility.
He said, “Let’s not politicise this issue. If the NPP were in government today and Ghanaians were facing danger abroad, we would have done the same thing”.
According to him, any responsible government has a duty to protect its citizens regardless of political considerations.
“This is about human lives and the safety of Ghanaians. It should not become a political contest over which party is doing better,” he added.
Davis Ansah Opoku further commended the Ghanaian authorities and diplomatic mission in South Africa for responding to the concerns of affected citizens and facilitating the evacuation process.
He noted that situations involving xenophobic threats require swift humanitarian responses and national unity rather than partisan attacks.
“At moments like this, we must stand together as a country and support our citizens who are going through fear and uncertainty,” he said.
The evacuation exercise follows weeks of anti-immigrant demonstrations in parts of South Africa, where foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, have expressed concerns over growing hostility and insecurity.
Government officials say hundreds of Ghanaians have registered for evacuation, with the first batch expected to arrive in the country as part of a phased repatriation arrangement.
The development has generated political debate locally, with some commentators attempting to compare the current response with how previous administrations handled similar situations.
However, the Mpraeso MP insists the matter should remain focused on the welfare and safety of Ghanaian citizens rather than partisan point-scoring.
