Minority boycotts Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on South Africa evacuation

The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has refused to attend a closed-door briefing about the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa. The committee insists that the government must first provide detailed records on the funding and execution of the exercise. The meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

However, the Minority claims it will not participate unless the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supplies the requested itemized expenditure, supporting documents, and related records. The request was made on August 17 and received by the Ministry on August 25, covering costs like transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical expenses, and reintegration payments.

The Caucus emphasizes that the disclosed total of GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating and supporting 1,964 Ghanaians returning from South Africa after xenophobic attacks is insufficient to independently verify the expenditure. The Minority argues that while supporting Ghanaians affected by the attacks is crucial, the government remains accountable for accountable use of public funds.