The Minority in Parliament is calling on the government to create a proper support plan for Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa after xenophobic attacks.
According to the caucus, simply bringing people back home is not enough without long-term help to help them rebuild their lives.
“A flight home is not a policy,” the caucus told parliament, urging the government to submit a structured programme covering housing, financial assistance, business recovery and psychosocial care for returnees.
Patricia Appiagyei, who delivered the statement on behalf of the Minority, said Parliament must closely monitor any reintegration programme to make sure it is properly carried out even after the evacuation process ends.
The Minority also called for stronger preventive diplomacy. They want the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create an official early warning and response system to better protect Ghanaians living abroad, especially in countries facing conflict or political instability.
The caucus referred to recent attacks on West Africans in South Africa, violence against Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso, and dangers facing citizens in Gulf countries as signs that Ghana needs a stronger and more organised protection system.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin said Ghana should stop relying only on reactive diplomacy and instead focus on intelligence-sharing and real-time monitoring to help prevent future crises involving citizens abroad.
The Minority also mentioned the killing of eight Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso in February, which they blamed on jihadist militants.
They warned that traders working in conflict-prone areas remain vulnerable without proper state protection.
They further pointed to tensions in the Gulf region after military strikes involving the United States and Israel earlier this year. According to them, many Ghanaians in the region were put at risk, while evacuation efforts were only partly successful.
The opposition is now asking the Foreign Affairs Ministry to update Parliament on the condition of Ghanaians living abroad and explain the country’s evacuation and protection plans for future emergencies.
The government has previously stated that it has improved diplomatic engagement and evacuation planning in response to security threats affecting Ghanaians overseas.
