The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has admitted to clerical errors in the records of 15 Ghanaians evacuated from the country after a data analysis raised concerns about the payment of reintegration and transportation allowances to individuals whose recorded dates of birth appeared to be in the future.
In a press statement dated October 19, 2026, the High Commission said the errors occurred when officials transcribed passport details, resulting in passport expiry dates being mistakenly recorded as dates of birth.
“The High Commission takes responsibility for the minor clerical errors which affect only 15 individuals out of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated,” the statement said.
It explained that the errors did not invalidate the identities of the evacuees, their participation in the evacuation exercise or their receipt of the approved reintegration and transportation allowances.
The High Commission maintained that all Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa underwent the required identification, data-processing and departure formalities before leaving the country.
It subsequently provided corrected details for the 15 individuals to facilitate updates to the records and ensure that the public was accurately informed.
The Commission also clarified that the Jibril family, comprising six people — a mother and her five children — travelled on Emergency Travel Certificates, as reflected in an amended list.
“These details confirm the identities of the persons concerned and the corresponding travel documentation,” the statement said.
The High Commission said it respected the media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability and encouraged journalists to verify apparent discrepancies with the relevant official sources.
“The High Commission fully respects the important role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability. In that spirit, we encourage verification with the appropriate official sources whenever apparent discrepancies arise in administrative records,” it added.
It reaffirmed its commitment to the evacuation exercise, saying it was proud of the efforts and sacrifices made to save the lives of Ghanaians and bring them home safely.
The statement followed a data analysis that questioned records relating to the government’s evacuation exercise in South Africa and payments made to some evacuees.
The High Commission said it remained available to provide further clarification and urged the media and the public to rely on the verified and corrected records.
