The Government of Ghana is repatriating of 327 Ghanaian nationals stranded in Côte d’Ivoire following a mass demolition exercise in the Port Bouët Municipality of Abidjan.
The intervention is aimed at mitigating the economic and social impact on affected migrants who lost their homes, businesses, and sources of income.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 228 returnees arrived in Ghana on Thursday, June 11, with arrangements completed for the remaining individuals to return on Friday, June 12. The affected nationals had been residing in communities impacted by the demolition exercise and became stranded after losing their livelihoods and lacking the means to secure alternative accommodation.
The repatriation operation, which includes the provision of buses and trucks to transport returnees and their belongings at no cost, reflects government efforts to protect citizens facing economic hardship abroad and facilitate their reintegration into local communities.
The Ministry also disclosed that Ivorian authorities have indicated a willingness to provide compensation to victims of the demolition exercise. Ghanaian officials are maintaining active engagement with their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the promised support is delivered to affected nationals.
According to the Ministry, Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Abidjan will continue coordinating efforts surrounding the compensation process while supporting affected citizens through the transition.
The development highlights the economic vulnerabilities faced by migrant communities when urban redevelopment and infrastructure enforcement measures disrupt informal businesses and residential settlements. For many of the affected Ghanaians, the demolitions resulted in the loss of income-generating activities, personal property, and housing, creating an urgent need for government intervention.
The Ministry reaffirmed the Government of Ghana’s commitment to the “welfare and protection” of its citizens and indicated that efforts would be intensified to support the successful return and reintegration of the affected individuals.
The Ministry further expressed appreciation to the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire and other stakeholders for their cooperation in facilitating the repatriation exercise and pledged to provide further updates as developments emerge.
