Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says 26 Ghanaians held in South African prisons were brought back home as part of the first evacuation flight from the country.
Speaking after the group arrived in Accra, Ablakwa said the detainees had been jailed over visa and permit violations.
“We did not want anybody left behind in prison,” he stated.
According to him, Ghana negotiated with South African authorities to release the prisoners alongside other evacuees fleeing recent xenophobic violence.
“So now, there is no Ghanaian in any South African prison,” he added.
About 300 Ghanaians returned home on Wednesday under the government’s emergency evacuation exercise.
