I was hit by pragyia on my way – South Africa returnee recounts accident on trip to Accra for press conference

A South African returnee, Godwin Anokye, says he travelled from Akropong to Accra after receiving a call to testify that he had received the government’s support package following his evacuation from South Africa.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Anokye said he understood the invitation to mean that returnees would receive financial assistance to establish businesses, following assurances he said had been given to them.

He said he set off on Sunday, but was involved in an accident involving a pragya, leaving him with pain in his leg.

“Upon arrival, we came to realise that it was a press conference for us to testify that indeed we received the support package from the government,” he said.

Anokye said he was grateful to the government for making the effort to evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa, even if no financial assistance had been provided.

He added that the returnees were fed at the airport and given other items, including bags of rice, cooking oil, clothing, cups, blankets, and three bars of soap.

“I expressed gratitude to the government for even the intention to evacuate us, even if they hadn’t given us anything,” he said.

According to him, he received a call asking returnees to come to Accra to testify amid social media claims that some people had not received the support package.

Anokye confirmed that he received GH¢5,000 upon arrival from South Africa as part of the government’s reintegration and transport allowance.

He stated that he received another GH¢500 for transportation after the press conference on Monday, which he said was shared among some of the returnees.

He insisted that he has no intention of misrepresenting the facts or bringing anyone into disrepute over the controversy surrounding the evacuation expenditure.

“That is the truth, and I don’t intend to disgrace anyone or lie that I didn’t receive the money when I did,” he stated.

His account comes amid public controversy over the expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa and differing accounts from returnees regarding the support they received.

Also read:

• ‘We won’t be forced to lie against gov’t’ – South Africa evacuees

• Some South Africa evacuees didn’t receive reintegration and transport allowance – JoyNews Research