WHY 5 GHANAIAN NATIONALS WERE BLOCKED FROM LEAVING SOUTH AFRICA
✈️ Overall situation
- Out of 300 Ghanaian nationals processed at OR Tambo International Airport on 27 May 2026, 295 were cleared to depart, while five were stopped from leaving SA
🛂 Reasons the 5 travellers were denied departure
- Asylum-seeker permit issue
- One traveller held a valid asylum-seeker permit.
- They cannot leave SA without cancelling the asylum application, as this would amount to refoulement (forced return)
- Expired passport
- Another traveller had an expired passport and no Emergency Travel Certificate from the Ghanaian Embassy.
- Travelling with minors without documentation
- A woman attempted to travel with two minor children belonging to her sister.
- She lacked proof of relationship and required consent documents from the mother.
🛃 BMA’s position
- The Border Management Authority said the decisions align with its mandate to facilitate the legitimate movement of people and goods.
🤝 Next steps for the affected travellers
- The five individuals were handed back to the Ghanaian High Commission for future repatriation once they meet immigration requirements.
This article is adapted from MSN News reporting, with full credit to the original writers. Jozi Captions provides summaries and contextual analysis for our readers.
🇬🇭 Related development
- A senior Ghanaian official welcomed the first batch of returnees in Accra, with emotional scenes as they arrived home
