Successful cross-border operation: 663 Ghanaians return home

Share the Article:

At least 663 Ghanaian nationals were successfully repatriated from South Africa to Ghana over the weekend via OR Tambo International Airport, announced BMA Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato.

This operation was efficiently coordinated by the Port Management Committee (PMC), a collective of various government stakeholders committed to ensuring lawful and orderly movement at the port of entry.

On Saturday, 6 June, the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria facilitated the repatriation of 332 Ghanaian nationals, who were transported to OR Tambo International Airport.

Following an extensive check-in process, the travellers proceeded to BMA Immigration for verification and clearance.

Masiapato reported that among the travellers processed, 170 held ordinary Ghanaian passports, while 162 used emergency travel certificates issued by the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria.

Emergency travel certificates are issued for single-use to assist citizens in returning to their home country.

THE BMA SUCCESSFULLY PROCESSES ANOTHER GROUP OF 663 GHANAIAN NATIONALS ON REPATRIATION THROUGH OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, has confirmed that the BMA successfully processed 663 Ghanaian nationals… pic.twitter.com/BcESy5POZE

— The Border Management Authority SA (@TheBMA_SA) June 8, 2026

In a recent immigration review, 321 travelers were identified as having overstayed in South Africa by 30 days or more, leading to their classification as undesirable under Section 30 of the Immigration Act and Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations.

“At the conclusion of the immigration process, 323 passengers were found eligible to depart and subsequently boarded a chartered flight arranged by the Government of Ghana through its High Commission in Pretoria.

“Nine passengers were, however, offloaded from the flight. These included two couples and their five children. The wife of one couple and the husband of the other were declared medically unfit to travel by airline personnel,” he remarked.

Ghanaian nationals repatriated

Masiapato revealed that airport paramedics were called to assist and subsequently transferred the two travellers to the airport clinic for further medical attention.

On Sunday, June 7, a total of 331 Ghanaian nationals were repatriated to their home country.

The Ghanaian High Commission facilitated their return by bringing them to OR Tambo International Airport. After check-in procedures were completed, these travelers moved on to BMA Immigration for the necessary processing prior to their departure.

ALSO READ | SAPS fires top cop Richard Shibiri following disciplinary hearing

He continued, “Among those processed, 117 travellers were using Ghanaian ordinary passports, while 90 were travelling on emergency travel certificates issued by the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria. In addition, 37 minor children born in South Africa were also processed using emergency travel certificates.

“BMA Immigration officials further processed 25 asylum seekers who voluntarily submitted withdrawal letters to cancel their asylum applications.

“During the verification process, 170 travellers were found to have overstayed their allocated period of stay in South Africa by 30 days or longer and were consequently declared undesirable in terms of Section 30 of the Immigration Act, read together with Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations.”