The Government of Ghana has received the second batch of approximately 200 citizens evacuated from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks that have claimed the lives of two Ghanaians and displaced hundreds more.

The evacuees arrived in Accra on Monday, July 27, 2026, where they were received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who assured them of the state’s unwavering commitment to their welfare and the pursuit of justice for those who lost their lives.

Addressing the returnees upon arrival, Mr Ablakwa led a minute’s silence in memory of the two Ghanaians killed during the attacks: Mr Bashiru Isaak and Mr Kojo Antwi.

“We are still demanding justice and have written to the South African authorities to ensure that the killings of Mr Bashiru Isaak and Mr Kojo Antwi are not covered up. There has to be justice, and we will continue to demand thorough investigations, the arrest and prosecution of those who killed our beloved compatriots,” he said.

Repatriation of Remains Underway

The Minister disclosed that while the body of Mr Bashiru Isaak had already been returned to Ghana, arrangements were still ongoing to repatriate the remains of Mr Kojo Antwi. The government has formally written to South African authorities demanding accountability and transparency in the investigations into both deaths.

“On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana, I assure you that you have never been orphaned. You have never been refugees. You have never been people without a home, without a country or without a government. We are honoured and privileged to welcome you, our brothers and sisters, back to the motherland,” Mr Ablakwa told the emotional returnees.

Large-Scale Evacuation Effort

The latest group forms part of Ghana’s second evacuation exercise from South Africa. According to the Minister, approximately 900 Ghanaians were brought home during the first phase, while the current operation is expected to return about 1,000 more citizens who fled violence in different provinces across South Africa.

Many of the affected Ghanaians had abandoned their homes after coming under attack and sought refuge in churches and other safe locations while awaiting evacuation. The Minister expressed profound gratitude to the Church of Pentecost in Pretoria and Johannesburg for opening its premises to displaced Ghanaians.

“The Church of Pentecost demonstrated what it means to be Christlike. They suspended church services and offered their premises as shelter to fleeing Ghanaians awaiting government evacuation,” he said.

Reintegration Support Package

Mr Ablakwa announced that every returnee would receive the same travel and reintegration support package provided to those evacuated during the first exercise, emphasising that the government would not reduce or alter the assistance.

“We are not reducing or changing the package. You are all valuable Ghanaians whom we cherish very much,” he stated.

Beyond financial support, the Minister disclosed that the government has begun working with private companies and state institutions to help returnees secure employment. Those with vocational skills and business experience would receive assistance to restart their livelihoods.

“We are compiling a database and working with corporate Ghana. Some of your compatriots have already secured jobs, and we will continue to ensure that everyone is properly reintegrated,” he said.

Legal Action and Compensation

Mr Ablakwa also assured the evacuees that the government has assembled a legal team to pursue compensation for properties, businesses, and other investments destroyed or abandoned during the attacks. The government is exploring every available legal avenue to address the violation of the fundamental human rights of affected citizens.

“We are exploring every available legal avenue to ensure that this violation of your fundamental human rights is addressed and that you are duly compensated for your losses,” he said.

The evacuation exercise comes amid heightened tensions in South Africa, where xenophobic violence has periodically targeted foreign nationals, particularly those from other African countries. The Ghanaian government has consistently condemned the attacks and called on South African authorities to protect the lives and property of all foreign nationals within their borders.

The development has drawn praise from civil society organisations in Ghana, who have commended the government’s swift response in evacuating its citizens and its commitment to securing justice for the victims. However, some have called for stronger diplomatic measures to prevent future attacks on Ghanaians living abroad.

The case of a Russian national accused of secretly recording and distributing sexually explicit videos of Ghanaian women has exposed a significant legal void in Ghana-Russia bilateral relations, prompting the Russian Ambassador to Ghana to call for a formal extradition treaty between the two countries.

Vladislav Aleksandrovich Liulkov, 37, was publicly identified in February 2026 by the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, as the individual allegedly operating online under the username “Yaytseslav.” The suspect is accused of secretly recording intimate encounters with Ghanaian women without their consent using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and subsequently monetizing the content online. He reportedly also targeted women in Kenya, widening the scope of the case to a regional cross-border incident.

The case triggered significant public outrage and renewed conversations about digital sexual abuse, with many demanding justice and accountability. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection established a dedicated support desk offering professional psychosocial counselling to victims and their families. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned the then Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Sergei Berdnikov, over the matter.

However, the absence of a formal extradition treaty between Ghana and Russia has presented a formidable legal obstacle. In an exclusive interview with Diplomatic Times, the new Russian Ambassador to Ghana, Andrei Ordash, said the Russian Embassy remains engaged in the case and reiterated that the suspect’s nationality would not shield him from condemnation.

“Yes, of course, this issue is under our close control. I would like to say honestly that we have always condemned such kinds of actions. No matter who was the author of such illegal acts, we declared our position openly from the very beginning. Of course, this incident remains a matter of our concern,” Ambassador Ordash said.

But he acknowledged that the case had exposed a broader gap in the legal framework governing relations between the two countries and could provide impetus for Ghana and Russia to strengthen cooperation in criminal justice and extradition matters.

“Another thing is that this incident also showed us that we have to broaden the legal basis of cooperation between Russia and Ghana because we don’t have documents on cooperation in criminal affairs, on extradition, etc. This is something that this incident can constitute, a momentum for us to broaden our cooperation in this sphere in order to sign appropriate documents,” he said.

The legal hurdles, however, run deeper than the absence of a treaty. Sam George previously explained that even if Ghana had signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Russia, the suspect would not be handed over because the Russian Constitution expressly prohibits the extradition of its citizens. Article 61(1) of the Russian Federation’s Constitution states that “a citizen of the Russian Federation may not be deported from the Russian Federation.”

“The Russian Constitution supersedes such treaty, and the Constitution is clear, ‘Russia will not extradite any of its citizens for prosecution,'” Sam George stated at a press briefing on February 18, 2026. “Even if we had signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Russia, the Russian Constitution supersedes such treaty.”

Some diplomatic experts have indicated that any move by Ghana to get Liulkov extradited to Ghana would not yield any fruit, pointing to Russia’s historical reluctance to extradite its own citizens.

Despite these challenges, Ghanaian authorities have pursued alternative legal avenues. The government has activated INTERPOL protocols to secure an international arrest warrant against Liulkov. This measure, according to officials, would confine the suspect to Russia, as “as soon as he steps outside of Russia into any other country, he will be picked up.”

The government is simultaneously preparing for possible prosecution in absentia in Ghanaian courts, with the Cyber Security Authority, the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney-General’s Department preparing a docket for the case.

The alleged conduct constitutes a criminal offence under Section 67 of Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which prohibits the non-consensual recording and distribution of intimate images and carries penalties of up to 25 years imprisonment.

The controversy erupted after videos circulated widely online in February 2026 showing Liulkov interacting with Ghanaian women. The suspect used Google Translate to assist his interactions, as his English is poor, and deliberately targeted vulnerable women. Investigations revealed that the unauthorised recordings date back to March 2025, with additional footage captured as recently as September 2025.

Some victims whose images appeared in the circulated material had no intimate encounter with the suspect at all, but had only brief casual interactions with him in public spaces such as shopping malls.

“He splashed their images as though he had intimate encounters with all of these ladies. That is wrong, and such a person must be brought to face the full rigours of the law,” Sam George said at the height of the scandal.

The Gender Minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, reiterated the government’s resolve to see the matter through to its logical conclusion. “The assurance we are giving all Ghanaians is that nobody will violate any Ghanaian citizen and go scot-free. We are going to pursue it. And that is the charge His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has given us,” she said.

Ambassador Ordash’s call for a formal extradition pact now places the onus on both governments to address the legal gaps exposed by the Liulkov case, even as Ghana pursues justice through INTERPOL and in absentia prosecution. Whether the case will serve as the catalyst for a broader Ghana-Russia criminal justice agreement remains to be seen.

Here are the top 10 headlines featured in major Ghanaian newspapers on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

1. Ghana completes IMF bailout – Final $360m of $3bn approved

• Newspaper: Daily Graphic
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the final review of Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program, unlocking the last tranche of $360 million. This concludes the country’s 36-month bailout program that began in May 2023.

2. ICU petitions Mahama over VALCO proposed sale

Newspaper: Daily Graphic

The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) has petitioned President Mahama over the proposed sale of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO).

3. NPP locked Ghana into IMF conditionalities limiting our spending – Ato Forson

• Newspaper: The Overseer
• Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, has accused the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of locking Ghana into stringent IMF conditionalities that are limiting the current government’s spending capacity.

4. Ibrahim Mahama denies interest in acquiring VALCO, threatens legal action over claims

• Newspaper: The Overseer
• Businessman Ibrahim Mahama has publicly denied any interest in acquiring VALCO and has threatened legal action against those making such claims.

5. Values of Atta Mills continue to shape my leadership – Prez Mahama

• Newspaper: The Dispatch
• On the 14th anniversary of the death of former President John Evans Atta Mills, President John Dramani Mahama paid tribute, stating that the values of his late mentor continue to shape his leadership.

6. Otumfuo commends IGP’s special operation team in Ashanti

• Newspaper: The Dispatch
• The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has commended the Inspector General of Police’s special operations team for their work in the Ashanti Region.

7. Grassroots movement endorses Opong-Fosu for NDC National Chairmanship

• Newspaper: The Overseer
• A grassroots movement within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has endorsed Opong-Fosu for the position of National Chairman.

8. Doctor uses GH¢20,000 cash reward to equip Paga Hospital

Newspaper: Daily Graphic

A doctor has used a GH¢20,000 cash reward to equip the Paga Hospital.

9. Chief Justice Suspends Greater Accra Court Sittings for Supreme Court’s 150th Anniversary

• Newspaper: The Daily Searchlight
• The Chief Justice has ordered the suspension of all court sittings in the Greater Accra Region to allow for the celebration of the Supreme Court’s 150th anniversary.

10. MP’s Empty Seat: Ghana Faces Constitutional Reckoning as Ohene Frimpong’s Dutch Detention Drags on

• Newspaper: The Spyder
• The continued detention of Asante Akyem North MP Kwame Ohene Frimpong in the Netherlands is raising constitutional questions about whether his parliamentary seat can remain vacant for an extended period.