The Government of Ghana has commenced the repatriation of 327 Ghanaian citizens who were left stranded in Côte d’Ivoire after a demolition exercise by authorities in the Port Bouët Municipality of Abidjan.
In a statement issued on Friday, June 12, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that 228 of the affected individuals arrived in Ghana on Thursday, June 11, while plans had been finalized for the remaining 99 to return on Friday, June 12. The government facilitated their journey home by providing buses and trucks.
According to the Ministry, the Ghanaians were living in areas affected by the demolition operation. The exercise not only displaced them but also disrupted their livelihoods, leaving many without alternative accommodation in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Ministry further revealed that Ivorian authorities have expressed willingness to compensate those impacted by the demolitions. Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Abidjan is expected to continue engaging with the relevant authorities to ensure that the compensation process is successfully carried out.
Reaffirming its commitment to citizens abroad, the Ministry stated that the government would continue to provide the necessary assistance to support the return and reintegration of the affected individuals.
The latest repatriation forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist Ghanaians facing challenges outside the country.
In May 2026, 28 Ghanaian nationals, mostly young people, were rescued from a human trafficking network in Côte d’Ivoire and returned home through a coordinated operation involving Ghanaian security agencies and officials at Ghana’s mission in Abidjan.
The Ministry has also overseen the voluntary return of Ghanaians from South Africa amid xenophobic tensions. The first group of approximately 300 returnees arrived from Johannesburg on May 27, 2026, aboard a government-chartered flight, while a second batch returned on June 7, bringing the total number of evacuees under the programme to nearly 1,000.
