The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has admitted clerical errors in the records of 15 evacuees following a JoyNews report that identified apparently impossible dates of birth in data submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Mission said the dates interpreted as future dates of birth were, in fact, passport expiry dates, and that the errors occurred during the transcription of some passport details.

The clarification follows a JoyNews data analysis that found discrepancies in the records of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa during the government’s evacuation exercise.

Among the entries flagged were records showing Precious Sekyiwaa as born in 2034 and James Akoto Baffour as born in 2036. The data also contained other irregular dates.

In a press statement dated October 19, 2026, the High Commission said the errors affected 15 of the 1,964 Ghanaiansevacuated from South Africa.

“The High Commission takes responsibility for the minor clerical errors which affects only 15 individuals out of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated,” it said.

It explained that the evacuation took place under emergency and traumatic circumstances involving the sudden evacuation of thousands of Ghanaians.

“We, however, wish to emphasise that every Ghanaian evacuated from South Africa underwent the required identification, data-processing and departure formalities prior to evacuation,” the statement said.

Passport expiry dates entered as birth dates

The Mission said its verification of the records showed that the dates highlighted in the JoyNews analysis were actually passport expiry dates.

“Our verification of the records indicate that the dates interpreted as dates of birth were, in fact, passport expiry dates,” it said.

The High Commission acknowledged that “clerical errors may have occurred during the transcription of some passport details by our officials.”

It, however, maintained that the errors did not affect the identities of the evacuees or their participation in the evacuation exercise.

“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 said.

The High Commission provided corrected details for the 15 individuals named in the statement.

James Akoto Baffour, for example, is listed as having been born on December 26, 2009, with his passport expiring on May 11, 2036.

Precious Sekyiwaa is listed as having been born on May 2, 1983, with a passport expiry date of August 10, 2034.

Other corrected records include Philip Oduro, born on April 12, 1994; Victoria Eduaquah, born on March 11, 1990; Prince Obeng Boateng, born on July 13, 2007; and Ebenezer Losu, born on July 13, 1996.

The list also includes Akua Brifoh, Philimon Opoku Nsiah, Rebecca Agyiwaa Opoku, Emmanuel Ampomah, Rose Pokua, Thomas Nkrumah, Rita Acouah, Rashid Abubakar and David Botwey.

The High Commission said the corrected information had been provided in an amended list to facilitate the update of the records.

GH¢49.7m evacuation under scrutiny

The data discrepancies have emerged amid wider scrutiny of the government’s GH¢49.72 million expenditure on the evacuation.

The exercise began on May 27 and ended on September 4, bringing 1,964 Ghanaians back from South Africa following concerns over xenophobic attacks and threats against foreign nationals.

According to figures presented by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, GH¢38.84 million was spent on chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation and medical care.

A further GH¢10.80 million was spent on reintegration and transportation allowances, while GH¢84,274 was used to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians.

The government contributed GH¢33.72 million, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, contributed GH¢16 million towards the exercise.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has also provided Parliament with a report containing details on more than 1,900 evacuees, while the Minister has invited the Auditor-General to audit evacuation exercises undertaken by the Ministry since 2017.

The High Commission said the errors identified in the evacuation records should not be interpreted as evidence that the affected persons were not genuine evacuees.

It also clarified that the Jibril family, comprising six people, including a mother and five children, travelled on Emergency Travel Certificates.

The Mission said it respects the role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability and encouraged verification with official sources whenever discrepancies are identified.

It said: “Fundamentally, we are proud of our efforts and sacrifices to save the lives of Ghanaians and bring them home safely.”

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.