Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa has temporarily halted new registrations for its voluntary repatriation programme as officials work through a growing number of applications already submitted.

In a statement issued on June 1, the mission announced that the suspension will take effect from Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to allow immigration and consular authorities sufficient time to review and verify the applications received so far.

The High Commission disclosed that more than 1,500 Ghanaian nationals residing in South Africa have signed up for the initiative, with screening and processing currently underway.

According to the mission, the decision to pause registrations is intended to ensure a thorough assessment of all pending applications before the exercise proceeds to its next phase.

The High Commission emphasised that the repatriation programme remains active and has not been discontinued. It assured prospective applicants who are yet to register that another opportunity will be provided once the current verification process is completed.

Officials indicated that details of the next registration window will be announced at a later date.

The mission also expressed gratitude to members of the Ghanaian community in South Africa for their patience, cooperation and understanding, noting that their support is crucial to the smooth execution of the exercise.

The temporary suspension comes as authorities seek to effectively manage the overwhelming response to the voluntary return programme while ensuring that all applications are carefully vetted before further registrations are opened.