In a major cross-border logistical operation, 663 Ghanaian citizens have been processed and flown back to Ghana from South Africa via OR Tambo International Airport over the weekend. The Border Management Authority (BMA) confirmed the successful conclusion of the mass repatriation exercise.
The complex transit was managed by the Port Management Committee (PMC), a multi-agency group of government stakeholders dedicated to ensuring orderly and legal movement through the port of entry.
Saturday Operations and Medical Offloads
The exercise kicked off on Saturday when the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria escorted a group of 332 nationals to the Johannesburg hub. Following standard check-in procedures, BMA Immigration took over for verification.
Documentation checks revealed that 170 of the travelers held standard Ghanaian passports, while the remaining 162 utilized Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs). The BMA clarified in a statement that ETCs are “single-use travel documents issued to facilitate the return of citizens to their country of origin.”
During immigration enforcement, 321 of Saturday’s travelers were identified as having violated visa conditions by overstaying their permitted duration in South Africa by at least 30 days. Consequently, they were officially deemed undesirable under Section 30 of the Immigration Act, read together with Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations.
Ultimately, 323 individuals were cleared to board the chartered flight arranged by the Ghanaian government. However, nine passengers—comprising two couples and their five children—were prevented from boarding.
“The wife of one couple and the husband of the other were declared medically unfit to travel by airline personnel,” the BMA stated. “Airport paramedics were called to assist and subsequently transferred the two travelers to the airport clinic for further medical attention.”
Sunday Operations and Asylum Withdrawals
Operations resumed on Sunday with the High Commission escorting a second batch of 331 Ghanaians to OR Tambo.
This group included 117 ordinary passport holders and 90 ETC users. Additionally, 37 minor children who were born in South Africa were processed using ETCs. BMA officials also handled 25 asylum seekers who chose to voluntarily cancel their applications by submitting formal withdrawal letters.
Similar to the previous day, 170 passengers were found to have overstayed their visas by 30 days or more. They were subsequently declared undesirable under the same Section 30 and Regulation 27(3)(c) legal frameworks.
A total of 341 people were cleared for the Sunday flight, a group that included 10 deportees transported directly from the Lindela Holding Facility by the Department of Home Affairs. Aside from one individual who failed to check in, 340 passengers boarded the chartered aircraft, which took off at 09:30 local time.
Inter-Agency Cooperation Commended
The dual-day operation underscores the strong collaborative relationship between South African border security entities and the Government of Ghana.
The BMA Commissioner praised the PMC and the dedicated officials who executed the operation. Emphasizing the need for continued partnership, the Commissioner urged foreign missions to keep working hand-in-hand with local government departments to guarantee that future repatriations remain seamless and strictly lawful.
Highlighting the broader impact of the operation, the Commissioner stated: “The successful processing of these repatriation movements reflects the importance of coordinated efforts between foreign missions and South African authorities. Such cooperation contributes to effective migration management, while ensuring compliance with the country’s immigration laws.”