SA High Commission admits errors in evacuation records, says future birth dates were passport expiry dates
Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa has accepted responsibility for errors in the records of 15 evacuees. It says dates flagged in a JoyNews analysis as future birth dates were actually passport expiry dates.
The clarification follows JoyNews reports suggesting that the government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, paid reintegration and transportation allowances to people whose recorded birth dates were in the future.
In a statement issued on Monday, the mission in Pretoria described the discrepancies as minor clerical errors. It said they affected 15 of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa.
“Our verification of the records indicates that the dates interpreted as dates of birth were, in fact, passport expiry dates.”
The High Commission acknowledged that its officials may have made errors while transcribing passport details. It attributed the mistakes to the emergency circumstances surrounding the evacuation of distressed Ghanaians.
It maintained that all evacuees completed the required identification, data-processing and departure procedures before leaving South Africa.
“However, these minor clerical errors do not invalidate the identities of the evacuees, their participation in the evacuation exercise, or the fact that they received the approved reintegration and transportation allowances.”
The mission supplied birth dates and passport expiry dates for several people referenced in the reports. These included James Akoto Baffour, Precious Sekyiwaa, Philip Oduro and Victoria Eduaquah.
It also clarified that six members of the Jibril family, comprising a mother and five children, travelled on Emergency Travel Certificates.
The High Commission said corrected information on the 15 individuals had been provided in an amended list to enable records to be updated.
It said it respected the media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability. It encouraged verification with official sources when discrepancies emerge in administrative records.
The mission urged the media and the public to rely on the corrected records.
“Fundamentally, we are proud of our efforts and sacrifices to save the lives of Ghanaians and bring them home safely.”
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