Newsfile to discuss GH¢49.72m evacuation cost, EC appointments and Obuasi SHTS abuse case

JoyNews’ flagship current affairs programme, Newsfile, will on Saturday, October 17, examine four major national issues that have dominated public debate over the past week.

Hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini, the programme will discuss the GH¢49.72 million spent evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa, controversy over appointments to the Electoral Commission (EC), allegations of sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), and the dismissal of a GH¢15 million defamation suit filed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The programme airs from 8:00am to 12:00 noon on Joy 99.7 FM, JoyNews and other platforms.

GH¢49.72m evacuation bill under scrutiny

The programme will examine questions surrounding the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said GH¢38.84 million was used for chartered flights, air tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation and medical care, while GH¢10.80 million went towards reintegration support and transportation allowances.

The government contributed GH¢33.72 million, while businessman Ibrahim Mahama’s company, Engineers and Planners, donated GH¢16 million.

The Minority in Parliament has demanded a detailed breakdown of the expenditure, including the cost per evacuee.

The Ministry has reportedly submitted a 200-page report in response to a Right to Information request. Mr Ablakwa has also requested an independent audit of evacuation exercises undertaken by successive governments since 2017.

The discussion will consider the expenditure, the documentation supporting it and the accountability questions raised by the Minority.

EC appointments raise questions about neutrality

The programme will also consider the controversy surrounding President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of Dr Joseph Kwaku Asamoah and Emelia Afi Agbenyo as Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission.

Madam Agbenyo’s previous role as an NDC manifesto spokesperson has prompted concerns about the political neutrality of the electoral management body.

The New Patriotic Party has called for her appointment to be withdrawn, citing her perceived political affiliation.

Minister of State in charge of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu has defended the appointments, arguing that institutional changes can also address perceived imbalances in state institutions. He has also pointed to appointments made under the previous administration.

The NDC maintains that Madam Agbenyo has the qualifications and integrity required for the role.

The discussion will examine the concerns surrounding political affiliations and the standards expected of officials entrusted with overseeing elections.

Obuasi SHTS abuse allegations

Allegations of sexual abuse involving the headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Zakaria Abdulai, and female students will form another part of the programme.

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has reported that the number of students alleging abuse has risen to 16.

The Ghana Education Service has suspended the headmaster pending investigations. Reports have also linked him to the National Democratic Congress in Juaben, where he is said to have served as constituency secretary and sought to contest the chairmanship.

Some parents have reportedly alleged that they were being pressured to withdraw their complaints.

Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights has condemned the alleged abuse and called for speedy action.

The programme will examine the allegations, the ongoing investigations and questions about whether warning signs were missed or concerns were not acted upon.

The allegations remain subject to investigation and must be established through due process.

Afenyo-Markin’s GH¢15m suit dismissed

The final issue will be the Accra High Court’s dismissal of the GH¢15 million defamation suit filed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin against Ghana Gold Board Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi.

The court struck out the case on October 14, ruling that the writ of summons was “incurably defective and incompetent”.

The ruling centred on compliance with Order 57 Rule 2 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47), which sets out requirements for actions involving defamation.

The court’s decision was procedural and did not determine whether Mr Gyamfi’s remarks were defamatory.

The suit followed comments Mr Gyamfi made on JoyNews’ Newsfile in August 2026, when he described Mr Afenyo-Markin as an “extortionist”.

The programme will examine the implications of the ruling and whether the Minority Leader’s legal team will seek to correct the defects and pursue the case again.

Newsfile airs on Saturday, October 17, from 8:00am to 12:00 noon on Joy 99.7 FM, JoyNews and other platforms.