Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Samuel Abu Jinapor has backed calls for Ghana to establish a formal evacuation policy and legislative framework to protect citizens caught in crises abroad.

Commenting on a statement delivered on the floor of Parliament by the Majority Chief Whip, Narlson Rockson Dafiamakpor, Mr. Abu Jinapor said recent evacuation exercises underscore the urgent need for a structured national policy rather than ad hoc responses to emergencies.

The discussion was sparked by Ghana’s evacuation of 2,262 citizens following xenophobic attacks in South Africa and the repatriation of approximately 8,000 Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mr. Abu Jinapor, such experiences should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to institutionalize evacuation procedures and ensure the country is better prepared to respond to future crises affecting its nationals abroad.

He noted that the issue goes beyond logistics and touches on the broader vision of African unity. Drawing on historical realities, he argued that colonial borders imposed during the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 divided communities that had long shared common ethnic, cultural and social ties.

He pointed to the presence of Ghanaian communities in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire and the existence of ethnic groups that span multiple African countries as evidence of the continent’s interconnected heritage. In this regard, he referenced arguments rooted in the Manden Charter of 1235 and principles of human dignity and freedom of movement, suggesting that Africans were historically one people before colonial boundaries fragmented the continent.

Mr. Abu Jinapor said recent crises have demonstrated the importance of continental solidarity, citing both the COVID-19 pandemic and xenophobic attacks in South Africa as moments when governments, citizens and diaspora communities rallied together to support affected Africans.

He described these responses as practical examples of the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasizes shared humanity, mutual responsibility and collective action.

The Ranking Member further argued that effective evacuation systems are essential to safeguarding vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, who often bear the greatest burden during conflicts, political instability and humanitarian emergencies.

“A strong evacuation framework is not merely an administrative tool; it is a mechanism for protecting human dignity and ensuring that citizens are not abandoned when crises arise,” he indicated.

He maintained that a comprehensive evacuation policy would strengthen Ghana’s capacity to respond swiftly to emergencies, reduce the costs associated with delayed interventions and reinforce public confidence in state institutions.

Summarising the broader lesson from the parliamentary discussion, Mr. Abu Jinapor stressed that self-respect, African unity and sound public policy must work together to guarantee the safety of citizens abroad and preserve dignity at home.

The call adds momentum to ongoing discussions within Parliament about how Ghana can better protect its citizens overseas while advancing deeper continental cooperation in line with the ideals of African solidarity and shared development.