Minority demands breakdown of nearly GH¢50m spent on Ghanaian evacuation from South Africa

The Minority in Parliament has demanded a detailed breakdown of the nearly GH¢50 million spent by the government on the evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians from South Africa.

The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee says it will boycott a closed-door meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, unless the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides the expenditure details and supporting documents it has requested.

The meeting is expected to be addressed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and will focus on the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals following xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

In a statement signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Damongo MP, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Minority said it supported the government’s decision to bring home Ghanaians whose safety had been threatened by the attacks.

“From the outset, the Minority supported government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaian citizens whose safety and welfare had been threatened by the unfortunate xenophobic attacks in South Africa.”

However, the Caucus said its support for the exercise did not exempt government from accounting for the public funds used.

“That support, however, cannot dispense with the equally important obligation of Government to account fully and transparently for the expenditure of public funds,” it stated.

According to the Minority, it submitted a formal request under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), on August 17, seeking comprehensive details on the cost and financing of the evacuation.

The request was received by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on August 25.

The Caucus said it requested information on expenditure, sources of funding, private-sector partners and their contributions, flights and other forms of transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration payments.

It also asked for relevant procurement and payment records to support the expenditure.

The Minority said the Foreign Affairs Minister announced on September 7 that nearly GH¢50 million had been spent on evacuating and reintegrating 1,964 Ghanaians.

It, however, said the Ministry had not yet supplied the itemised expenditure statement and supporting documentation required to determine how the funds were utilised.

“The expenditure of public funds carries with it a corresponding duty of accountability,” the statement said.

The Caucus therefore said it would not attend Wednesday’s closed-door engagement while its formal request for the financial records remains outstanding.

It warned that its position would only change if the Ministry provides the requested documents.

The Minority reaffirmed its commitment to scrutinising the use of public funds, insisting that transparency and accountability remain central to its constitutional and parliamentary responsibilities.

“The Minority will remain resolute in the discharge of its constitutional and parliamentary responsibility to demand transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayers’ funds,” it stated.

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