The Minority in Parliament has called for a comprehensive reintegration plan for citizens evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks, arguing that repatriation flights alone are insufficient without long-term support measures.

“A flight home is not a policy,” the caucus told parliament, urging the government to submit a structured programme covering housing, financial assistance, business recovery and psychosocial care for returnees.

Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei who read a speech on behalf of the caucus said parliament must exercise oversight over any reintegration framework to ensure implementation does not falter after initial evacuation efforts.

The Minority also pressed for stronger preventive diplomacy, calling on the Foreign Affairs Ministry to establish a formal early warning and response system to protect Ghanaians abroad, particularly in regions facing political instability or conflict.

It cited recent attacks on West Africans in South Africa, violence against Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso, and risks to citizens in Gulf states as evidence of the need for a coordinated protection framework.

Afenyo-Markin said Ghana must move beyond reactive diplomacy, arguing that intelligence-sharing and real-time monitoring mechanisms were necessary to prevent future crises.

The Minority further referenced the killing of eight Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso in February, which it attributed to jihadist militants, and warned that traders operating across conflict zones remained exposed without structured state protection.

It also pointed to instability in the Gulf region following military strikes involving the United States and Israel earlier this year, saying hundreds of Ghanaians were placed at risk and evacuations were only partially implemented.

The opposition called on the Foreign Affairs Ministry to brief parliament on the status of Ghanaian nationals abroad and to outline evacuation and protection protocols for future emergencies.

The government has previously said it has strengthened diplomatic engagement and evacuation planning in response to security incidents affecting citizens overseas.