Who paid for it? – NPP MP demands audit trail of Ghana’s South Africa evacuation

Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, Member of Parliament for Bosome-Freho and Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, has called for a complete financial audit trail of Ghana's evacuation of nationals from South Africa. The MP has submitted a Right to Information (RTI) request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for detailed records on the government's expenditure on the operation since May 2026.

The Ministry's statement on August 13, 2026, claimed that Ghana had "fully funded the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks," without providing any financial details. The Ministry stated that the evacuation was solely funded by the Government of Ghana and its "Ghanaian partners," with over 1,600 Ghanaians being evacuated so far.

Ayeh argues that without a transparent disclosure of the total cost, the composition of expenditures, the budgetary sources, and the identities of any private partners, the public has no basis to assess the exercise's financial impact. His request seeks a breakdown of costs, including air charters, commercial tickets, ground transportation, accommodation, consular services, staff expenses, reintegration payments, and relief items.

Ayeh wants invoices, payment vouchers, receipts, contracts, and expenditure approvals to support the spending, as well as details on the source of funds, including any drawn from the Consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund, 2026 budget allocation, or supplementary appropriations. The MP also seeks information on the "Ghanaian partners" involved, including their names, contributions, and whether they received reimbursement or tax benefits.

Additionally, Ayeh demands a schedule of each evacuation flight, including dates, service providers, number of evacuees, costs, and whether the flights were chartered or commercial.