Over 9,000 Ghanaians and resident permit holders, who were stranded abroad due to Ghana’s border closure at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, have been successfully evacuated back to Ghana.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced that the evacuation exercise which begun on May 23, 2020 has been duly completed.
A statement from the ministry stated that, “the evacuation exercise, which commenced on 23rd May, 2020 after the closure of borders in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 brought home over nine thousand (9,000) Ghanaians and resident permit holders from around the world”.
The evacuated persons came from countries such as the United States of America, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and African states like Kenya, South Africa, The Gambia, Senegal and, Benin among a host of other countries.
According to the ministry’s statement, government funded the cost of travel and quarantine for some Ghanaians who were financially handicapped and all evacuations within the West African sub region including students who arrived within that period.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed its appreciation to both private and state institutions for their contributions toward the evacuation exercise.
The Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, and other well-meaning Ghanaians were also acknowledged for their financial support in bringing back home stranded citizens abroad.
The ministry further advised the public to keep observing all laid down protocols to contain the virus and register with Ghana Missions abroad wherever their destinations may be.
