The Foreign Affairs Ministry says the widely circulated notice claiming Cambodia has ordered African nationals to leave the country by May 31 or face imprisonment and heavy fines is fake, after consultations with Cambodian authorities.
In a statement, the ministry said the document, which spread across social and traditional media platforms, falsely alleged that citizens of Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, and other African countries had been directed to leave Cambodia or risk arrest, two-year jail terms, and financial penalties for immigration violations.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the public that following diplomatic engagements with the relevant Cambodian authorities, it has been confirmed that the said notice is absolutely fake and was not issued by any state institution in Cambodia,” the Ministry said.
It added that Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration had issued its own clarification describing the claims as “completely untrue.”
The Cambodian agency said it had observed reports published by websites including Campaigneronline.com and Newsghana.com under headlines stating “Cambodia Orders Africans with Expired Immigration Waivers to Leave by May 31, 2026.”
“The General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to clarify that the information published on those websites is completely untrue,” the Cambodian statement said.
Authorities are, however, urging the public and media organizations to disregard the document and avoid circulating unverified information capable of creating “unnecessary fear and anxiety among affected persons and their families.”
While rejecting the deportation claims, the ministry disclosed that some Ghanaian nationals living in Cambodia had already sought assistance to return home before the controversy emerged.
According to the ministry, Ghana’s High Commission in Malaysia, which also oversees relations with Cambodia, has facilitated the voluntary evacuation of 85 Ghanaians between March and May 2026.
Arrangements are also underway to assist an additional 76 Ghanaians in Cambodia who have expressed interest in returning home, the ministry said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working in conjunction with competent authorities in Cambodia to ensure the safe return of these Ghanaians,” the statement said, adding that Ghana commended the Cambodian government for its cooperation.
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