Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is finalising plans to bring home an additional 76 Ghanaian citizens from Cambodia. This marks the second phase of a government-led rescue operation. The effort aims to protect Ghanaians from a widely circulated, false deportation notice.
The panic was triggered by a fake official circular. This document falsely claimed Cambodian authorities would arrest and imprison Africans. It specifically mentioned citizens from Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, and Uganda. The notice warned of immediate arrest and long prison terms for those remaining after May 31, 2026. This has caused significant distress among the Ghanaian diaspora in Cambodia. The government stepped in to reassure and assist its citizens.
This evacuation is part of Ghana's broader policy to protect its citizens living abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs often engages in such interventions. Earlier in 2026, from March to May, Ghana successfully evacuated 85 citizens from Cambodia. This was also done through diplomatic channels. These operations demonstrate the government's commitment to citizen welfare. The High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, serves as Ghana's diplomatic mission to Cambodia. This highlights the extensive reach and responsibility of Ghanaian embassies and high commissions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed the ongoing efforts. "The Ministry will continue to work in close collaboration with all relevant authorities to ensure the safety, welfare and protection of Ghanaian nationals in Cambodia," his ministry stated on May 29, 2026. The Cambodian General Department of Immigration explicitly clarified that the deportation notice was "completely untrue." This official debunking helped to prevent further unnecessary fear and distress among the affected citizens.
The repatriation of these 76 Ghanaians is expected to be completed swiftly. It will bring the total number of citizens evacuated under this specific incident to 161. The government will continue to monitor the situation. It will ensure the safety of Ghanaians in Cambodia. This event underscores the importance of verifying information during times of crisis. It also highlights the critical role of diplomatic missions in protecting citizens abroad.