Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration addresses the press
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has given the total number of Ghanaian nationals evacuated from Ukraine, as of yesterday noon, to be 181. Out of the number, 88 transited through Romania, Hungary and Poland.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry yesterday.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of some Ghanaians refusing evacuation after the government had purchased tickets and paid for their COVID-19 test because they had previously expressed willingness to be evacuated.
Refusal
The Ministry noted with grave concern the refusal of such Ghanaians students to show up at the airport after they had expressed their willingness to be evacuated.
“This has resulted in the government purchasing air tickets which remain used as well as paying for COVID-19 tests for persons with no intention of travelling. In the case of those who refuse to be assisted to return home, the Government of Ghana’s obligations towards them ceases after they have been provided with 2 nights’ hotel accommodation,” part of the statement read.
In view of this, the Ministry has entreated “only Ghanaians who are willing to be evacuated to confirm their participation, so as to avoid the dissipation of scarce public funds.”
The statement emphasised that government would only bear the cost of two nights’ hotel accommodation for Ghanaians who had expressed interest to be evacuated and are received by the Ministry’s staff and representatives in neighbouring countries of Ukraine.
It added that about 70% of Ghanaian nationals who were stranded in Sumy had commenced their journey to Myrhorod for onward transfer to neighbouring countries.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed gratitude to the various National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) branches and other bodies who had contributed in diverse ways to the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from Ukraine.
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