Ghana to soon launch consular fund to assist citizens abroad
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon launch the Ghanaian Diaspora Consular Fund to provide emergency assistance to the country’s citizens who find themselves in difficult situations or crises abroad. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the initiative during a briefing on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
Emergency funding
According to Ablakwa, the fund is intended to become an emergency financing mechanism that will allow authorities to respond quickly to the needs of Ghanaian citizens in crisis situations in any country in the world. The minister also said that the state intends to act promptly and decisively when the safety of its citizens abroad is under threat.
As MyJoyOnline reports, the announcement came after the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaian citizens from South Africa amid concerns over the safety of foreigners. According to the minister, the operation had not been budgeted for, but the government decided to carry it out due to the deteriorating situation.
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Evacuation from South Africa
The evacuation operation lasted from May 27 to September 4. It was coordinated by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, the Office of the President, the National Security Secretariat, and other state institutions.
The first evacuation flight was primarily intended for vulnerable groups, including children, sick people, the elderly, and women. Ablakwa also noted the solidarity of Ghanaians who defended the rights of compatriots affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
