Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary Koku Anyidoho has called for Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa to be dismissed immediately over discrepancies linked to the evacuation of Ghanaians.
The call follows a clarification from the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria that the errors affected 15 of the 1,964 people evacuated from South Africa.
“Never in the history of Ghana have we sunk so low. The High Commissioner must be sacked immediately,” Mr Anyidoho wrote on X.
He also questioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying: “So, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry now has lots of cobwebs hanging over its head? Never in the history of our beloved nation have we had our Foreign Ministry skating on such thin ice. One evacuation: Nsem ‘piii’,”.
The controversy followed a JoyNews data analysis programme which suggested that the government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had paid reintegration and transportation allowances to people whose recorded dates of birth appeared to be in the future.
In a press statement issued on Monday, October 20, 2026, the High Commission said those entries had been wrongly interpreted. It explained that the dates were actually passport expiry dates, adding that some errors may have been made when officials transcribed passport information.
The Mission said all evacuated Ghanaians completed the required identification, data-processing and departure procedures before leaving South Africa.
“These minor clerical errors do not invalidate the identities of the evacuees, their participation in the evacuation exercise, or the fact that they received the approved reintegration and transportation allowances,” the statement said.
It added that such mistakes can occur during emergency and traumatic operations involving the sudden evacuation of thousands of distressed nationals.
The High Commission provided corrected details for the 15 affected individuals: James Akoto Baffour, born on 26/12/2009; Precious Sekyiwaa, 02/05/1983; Philip Oduro, 12/04/1994; Victoria Eduaquah, 11/03/1990; Prince Obeng Boateng, 13/07/2007; Ebenezar Losu, 13/07/1996; Akua Brifoh, 02/03/1982; Philimon Opoku Nsiah, 18/06/2010; Rebecca Agyiwaa Opoku, 16/06/1986; Emmanuel Ampomah, 20/07/1980; Rose Pokua, 28/06/1984; Thomas Nkrumah, 31/12/1990; Rita Acouah, 22/03/1988; Rashid Abubakar, 19/03/1988; and David Botwey, 24/04/1989.
The Mission also addressed records concerning the Jibril family, comprising a mother and five children. It said they travelled on Emergency Travel Certificates, as shown in the amended list attached to the statement.
According to the High Commission, the corrected information has been submitted to allow the records to be updated and to ensure the public receives accurate details.
It said it respected the media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability, while urging people to confirm apparent discrepancies in administrative records with official sources.
“Fundamentally, we are proud of our efforts and sacrifices to save the lives of Ghanaians and bring them home safely,” it added.