THE first group of around 300 Ghanaian nationals flew to their country on Wednesday as their government started a voluntary citizen repatriation programme.

The flight follows renewed demonstrations against immigration in parts of South Africa.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, told reporters at Oliver Tambo International Airport that more people than those on the registered list had returned.

He said their registration would be processed ahead of the next flight to Ghana, expected to depart on Sunday.

Ghana recently summoned South Africa’s ambassador over reported attacks on Ghanaians, before announcing it would evacuate its affected citizens.

Loren Landau, a migration expert and political analyst at the University of the Witwatersrand, said the initiative was a message to South Africa about Ghana’s unhappiness over recent events.

“I think in this case, it’s less about Ghana trying to protect its citizens per se, or these 300. This is a symbolic move to try to send a message to their sort of bigger counterpart, South Africa, that this is politically unacceptable,” said Ms Landau.

South African authorities have condemned violence against foreign nationals while acknowledging concerns about illegal immigration.

Nigeria has also voiced disapproval at the treatment of some of its citizens and said it was also considering evacuations.