Covid-19: Kuwait Deportees were a Starting Point, we can’t Evacuate All Ghanaians Abroad at Once– Deputy Minister

The government of Ghana is yet to take a final decision on evacuating Ghanaians stranded abroad following the coronavirus pandemic which has led to closure of borders.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Charles Owiredu said “[authorities] don’t have a decision to bring in all Ghanaians”, considering such a move will be risky.

He, however, explained that the government may consider evacuating its nationals abroad in batches.

“The government cannot make a decision saying all of these people should come in at the same time. It is going to be very chaotic if you look at the numbers… So the decision was taken that let’s start with those from Kuwait” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday morning (May 26, 2020).

The deputy minister noted that, the 230 Ghanaians who were welcomed into from Kuwait last Saturday was part of the first category.

“This group that we call the first cohort, they are the ones that the decision was taken by Cabinet to allow them to come in.”

The second category comprised of people who travelled outside the country on their own and are willing to pay for their flight home and the cost of quarantine.

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The third category of people included persons who were outside the country on behalf of the state.

This category also includes students who are on government scholarships.

The final category has travellers who lack the financial wherewithal to return home.

“The little money that they had on them, they started using them so now they are broke. We say they are destitute. As a result, even if you provide an aircraft and ask these people to pay, they cannot pay,” Mr. Owiredu explained.

In the meantime, the Deputy Minister said the various needs of Ghanaians abroad will be handled on a need basis.