Sylvester Boakye: The lone Ghanaian at centre of South Africa evacuation controversy

Sylvester Boakye was the only Ghanaian to report to O.R. Tambo International Airport following what authorities say was a missed update regarding evacuation arrangements, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said.

Boakye’s solitary appearance at the airport sparked confusion and online claims that he had been airlifted to Ghana on a government-chartered flight.

However, Ablakwa said those reports were untrue, explaining that no evacuation flight has yet taken place.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quarshie, later located Boakye and met him at the country’s diplomatic mission in Pretoria, assuring him that he would be included in planned evacuations.

Authorities say Boakye is among approximately 800 Ghanaians expected to be evacuated once ongoing legal, technical and logistical issues are resolved in coordination with South African officials.

“No Ghanaian desirous of returning home would be left behind,” Ablakwa said, adding that the situation highlights the spread of misinformation surrounding the evacuation process.

The government has not indicated when the evacuation flights will begin but says preparations are ongoing.