South Africa intensifies hunt after eight women found dead

The Minority in Ghana's Parliament has called for a detailed breakdown of the nearly GH¢50 million allocated for the evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians from South Africa after xenophobic attacks. The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee has threatened to boycott a scheduled closed-door meeting on September 16, unless the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides the requested expenditure details and supporting documents.

The meeting, which Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is expected to attend, will focus on the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals due to the xenophobic incidents in South Africa. The Caucus, led by Ranking Member Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, stated that while they supported the government's decision to bring home the affected Ghanaians, they cannot condone the absence of transparency in the use of public funds.

The Caucus had submitted a Right to Information Act request on August 17, seeking comprehensive information on the cost and financing of the evacuation, including expenditure, sources of funding, private-sector partners, flights, accommodation, feeding, medical services, and reintegration payments. As of September 7, the Ministry had confirmed the total expenditure of nearly GH¢50 million on evacuating and reintegrating 1,964 Ghanaians, but had yet to provide the itemized expenditure statement and supporting documentation.

The Minority Caucus emphasized that accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayers' funds are paramount to their constitutional and parliamentary responsibilities.