By Our Democracy News GH
October 21, 2026
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has admitted clerical errors in the evacuation records of 15 Ghanaians, explaining that officials mistakenly recorded passport expiry dates as dates of birth during data entry.
In a statement dated October 19, 2026, the High Commission said the errors affected 15 of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa but did not invalidate their identities, participation in the evacuation exercise or receipt of the approved reintegration and transportation allowances.
“The High Commission takes responsibility for the minor clerical errors which affect only 15 individuals out of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated,” the statement said.
The admission follows a data analysis that raised questions about the records of some evacuees, including entries showing dates of birth that appeared to be in the future and concerns about the payment of allowances to the individuals involved.
The High Commission said the discrepancies resulted from errors made by officials while transcribing passport information and subsequently provided corrected details for the 15 individuals to facilitate updates to the records.
It maintained that all Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa underwent the required identification, data-processing and departure procedures before leaving the country.
The Commission also clarified that the Jibril family, comprising six people, including a mother and five children, travelled on Emergency Travel Certificates, as reflected in an amended list.
“These details confirm the identities of the persons concerned and the corresponding travel documentation,” the statement said.
The High Commission urged journalists to verify apparent discrepancies in administrative records with the appropriate official sources, while reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability.
“The High Commission fully respects the important role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability. In that spirit, we encourage verification with the appropriate official sources whenever apparent discrepancies arise in administrative records,” it added.
The Commission also expressed pride in the efforts made to evacuate Ghanaians safely from South Africa, where heightened anti-immigrant sentiment and attacks targeting foreign nationals prompted the operation.
The evacuation exercise has attracted public scrutiny over its GH¢49.72 million cost, the accuracy of beneficiary records and the payment of allowances to those brought home.
The High Commission said it remained available to provide further clarification and encouraged the media and the public to rely on verified and corrected records.
