Covid-19: Arrangements Underway to Evacuate Ghanaians Abroad – Foreign Affairs Minister

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, has told Parliament that government is taking steps to procedurally evacuate its stranded nationals in abroad.

The move, is in compliance with the second phase of government’s evacuation programme for Ghanaians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The minister mentioned that, chartered flights are being arranged to bring back these stranded persons into the country,  based on a schedule drawn up by the Ministry.

The countries captured in the schedule include Nigeria, Mauritania, Ethiopia, China, United States Of America, United Kingdom, UAE, among others.

 “We have received a charter from New York of 299 persons and also one from Washington DC of 300 persons. It should be noted that these arrangements are subject to other requirements in the host country such as permits being granted, overflights and landing clearance and so as a result, there may be changes in the scheduled dates of arrival.”

Madam Ayorkor Botchway also said negotiations are currently underway between our Beijing Mission and Ethiopian Airlines for the evacuation of some 675 stranded Ghanaians in China.

“Similarly, our mission in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai have initiated discussions with the UAE authorities for the evacuation of over 500 of out nationals stranded in that country,” she added.

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The Foreign Ministry is also in discussion with the Scholarship Secretariat and the National COVID-19 Task Force to finalise arrangements to evacuate 151 Ghanaians students who completed their language proficiency courses in Benin last month using STC buses.

“Now arrangements are in place to evacuate them on June 13,” the Minister confirmed.

She also noted that “arrangements are in progress to assist with the evacuation of Ghanaians in other counties such as Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Niger and Ethiopia.”

“Priority may be given to urgent evacuation requests that require minimal government intervention such as free arranged charter flights awaiting London clearance grom government,” she stated.

SOURCE: citinewsroom