Senior Ghanaian professionals working in South Africa’s mining industry are seeking to be included in Ghana’s ongoing evacuation exercise following renewed fears over xenophobic tensions, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, has revealed.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, May 28, Mr Quashie said the affected Ghanaians, many of whom occupy top positions in South African mining companies, had formally expressed interest in returning home due to growing safety concerns.
According to him, the miners have spent several years contributing to South Africa’s mining sector but now feel increasingly exposed amid reports of possible xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
Mr Quashie disclosed that the group decided to seek evacuation after receiving warnings from their employers ahead of a planned demonstration on June 30.
He said company executives informed the Ghanaian workers that their safety could not be guaranteed during the period.
“A group of senior citizens and senior staffers of some of the mines in South Africa, who are Ghanaians working there, have just been told by their executives that they also want to leave and go back to Ghana so that they can go and help in the mining sector,” he stated.
He added that many of the workers hold strategic positions within the mining industry and now prefer to return to Ghana to continue applying their expertise locally.
“They are very senior citizens, they are holding very good positions here in most of the mines here and so they have also decided to go home and apply their trade in Ghana,” he added.
The High Commissioner further explained that the miners feel disappointed by what they describe as inadequate protection despite their long years of service and contributions to South African companies.
“They have indicated that they have given their all to these South African companies, but they feel that they have not been protective enough,” he said.
“Especially, their bosses have told them that they should not come to work on 30th June because they cannot guarantee their safety when they come to work,” he added.
Mr Quashie’s comments come as Ghana continues its evacuation exercise in South Africa amid rising insecurity and reports of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.
So far, about 300 Ghanaian citizens have reportedly been repatriated as authorities work to ensure the safety of nationals living in affected areas.
