Over 1,500 Ghanaians in South Africa register for repatriation
via GhanaWeb4 min read
More than 1,500 Ghanaians residing in South Africa have registered for a voluntary repatriation exercise coordinated by the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria. The High Commission announced a temporary suspension of new registrations starting June 2, 2026, to process and screen the large number of applications already received. This pause will allow for verification of applicants in collaboration with South African Home Affairs authorities. The High Commission clarified that the repatriation exercise has not ended and assured that another registration phase will be announced after the current applications are processed. They expressed gratitude to the Ghanaian community in South Africa for their cooperation and patience during this structured arrangement to facilitate returns to Ghana.
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The Electricity Company of Ghana ECG has issued a public advisory titled "Rainstorm and Electricity – A Dangerous Combination," urging Ghanaians to exercise extreme caution during the rainy season. The company highlights the dangers of heavy rains combined with electricity, noting that fallen power lines, flooded streets, and damaged electrical equipment are common hazards. ECG advises the public to treat every fallen power line as live and dangerous, and to avoid walking through flooded areas near electrical installations, as submerged equipment can carry lethal currents. Households are also encouraged to unplug electrical appliances during thunderstorms to prevent shocks and damage. The advisory follows recent heavy rains and the spillage of the Weija Dam, which caused flooding and power outages in several communities. Key safety messages include staying away from fallen power lines, unplugging appliances during thunderstorms, avoiding flooded areas near electrical installations, assuming any fallen line is live, and reporting hazards immediately to ECG at 0302611611.
Ghana's Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, recently recounted Ghana's strong support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, emphasizing African solidarity. Speaking at an event on June 2, 2026, Bagbin highlighted various contributions from African nations, including Ghana, to aid South Africans in their fight for freedom. He shared his personal involvement in South Africa's transition, revealing he spent months there in the early 1990s assisting with preparations for the country's first democratic elections in 1994. Bagbin noted that Africans united against oppression and land dispossession, recalling his experience seeing Black South Africans denied land and opportunities. He described the hardships he faced during his stay, including being monitored due to his identity as a Black African. He also mentioned relying on a colleague he suspected was linked to Russian intelligence services, reflecting the tense environment. While acknowledging the collective effort that led to South Africa's independence and the success of the 1994 elections, Bagbin expressed concern that many young South Africans today perceive little change in their conditions. He warned that this frustration contributes to rising tensions and resentment against other Africans, particularly concerning jobs and migration, calling for diplomatic solutions to these worrying attitudes. His comments follow recent xenophobic tensions in South Africa, which led to Ghana evacuating some of its citizens
Must ReadGhana's Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has cautioned the public about the severe risks associated with Ebola, stating that the disease can be fatal for 30 to 50 percent of those infected. Speaking on June 2, 2026, Akandoh emphasized that there is currently no specific medication, cure, or vaccine for Ebola, making early detection and treatment crucial. He urged Ghanaians experiencing symptoms such as muscle pain, vomiting, unexplained bleeding, and headaches to seek immediate medical attention and testing at a health facility, rather than self-diagnosing with malaria. The Minister stressed the importance of not being complacent and called for a return to strict hygiene protocols, including the provision of handwashing facilities at public events, to prevent a potential outbreak.
The 1970 Sallah v Attorney-General case remains a significant event in Ghanaian legal history, illustrating the judiciary's role in scrutinizing executive actions. The case arose when Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia's government terminated the appointments of 568 public servants, including EK Sallah, a manager at the Ghana National Trading Corporation GNTC, citing the need for efficiency. The government broadly interpreted Section 91 of the 1969 Constitution's transitional provisions, which addressed appointments in public offices "established" by the National Liberation Council NLC. Sallah challenged his dismissal in the Supreme Court, arguing his position fell outside the scope of the transitional provision. The Attorney General, Nicholas Yaw Boafo Adade, attempted to disqualify two justices for alleged bias, but the court allowed them to sit. In its April 20, 1970, decision, the Supreme Court ruled 3-1 that Sallah's appointment was wrongly terminated, interpreting "establish" to mean to set up or create, and concluding that the GNTC was not an NLC-created office. Prime Minister Busia, in a televised address, stated that no court could compel the government to employ or re-employ anyone, but he affirmed he would not dismiss judges. The case is frequently cited as a defining moment in constitutional law, emphasizing judicial independence, strict interpretation of transitional provisions, and limits on executive actions in public service matters following the return to civil