A Ghanaian national evacuated from South Africa as part of the government’s ongoing repatriation exercise due to xenophobic attacks has died shortly after arriving at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the deceased passed away at the airport’s Emergency Medical Reception at 6:55 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, after arriving on a Tanzanian Airlines flight from South Africa.
The deceased was among 50 Ghanaians who arrived in Ghana on the flight as part of the government’s evacuation exercise. In a statement, the Ministry said it was announcing the death with deep sadness adding that the deceased’s health condition had reportedly begun to deteriorate about 30 minutes before the aircraft touched down in Accra. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces with deep sadness the death of one of the Ghanaian evacuees from South Africa upon arrival in Ghana at the Emergency Medical Reception at the Accra International Airport at 6:55pm,” the statement said.
According to the Ministry, a medical emergency team had been stationed at the airport in anticipation of the returnees and attended to the deceased immediately after his arrival. “A medical emergency team that was on standby at the airport to receive him attended to him upon arrival but regrettably the deceased passed away and was confirmed dead by doctors at 6:55pm after all attempts failed,” the Ministry stated.
The circumstances leading to the medical emergency reportedly began during the final stages of the flight. “Reports by other passengers indicate that the deceased’s health condition began to deteriorate about 30 minutes to touch down in Accra,” the statement said. The Ministry has begun the process of notifying the deceased’s relatives and has arranged for his remains to be deposited at the Police Hospital for autopsy. “The Ministry is undertaking the formalities of informing the family of the deceased and has arranged for the deposit of the remains at the Police Hospital for autopsy,” it said.
The death occurred as Ghana continued its efforts to facilitate the return of nationals from South Africa under the government’s evacuation exercise. The Ministry did not disclose the identity of the deceased or the nature of the health condition that led to the medical emergency. It said further information would be provided after engagement with the bereaved family. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide an update on this sad development after formal engagement with the bereaved family,” the statement added.
By: Joyce Owusu
