Minority demands documents to account for GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation cost

The Minority in Ghana's Parliament is demanding full transparency regarding the government's reported GH¢49.7 million expenditure on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa, following xenophobic attacks. This request comes after Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed on September 7 that 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated at a cost of GH¢49,721,786.

The Minority asserts that the expenditure needs to be backed by financial and operational records to allow both Parliament and the public to independently verify the funds' usage.

At a press briefing on September 10, Deputy Ranking Member Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh of the Foreign Affairs Committee clarified that the Minority is not seeking personal details of the evacuees, but rather the necessary documentation to account for the public funds' usage. Ayeh emphasized that the government should provide sufficient evidence to verify the official account, rather than publishing sensitive personal information.

He specifically called for reconciliation between the passenger records, ticket purchases, invoices, and payments related to the evacuation, asserting that if the books are closed, they should be opened for scrutiny.

The Minority's demand is aimed at promoting transparency rather than inciting political accusations, according to Ayeh. He stressed that the GH¢49.7 million expenditure should be fully documented and subject to parliamentary review, ensuring that payments made to service providers are properly accounted for and that the number of evacuated individuals aligns with the reported expenditure.