Not a cedi missing in South Africa evacuation exercise – Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has firmly rejected claims of financial impropriety during the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa. During an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile on October 17, 2026, Mr Ablakwa emphatically stated that "not a cedi, not a pesewa is missing" from the funds allocated to the operation.

This response follows a series of allegations from the Minority in Parliament, who demanded an independent audit of the GH¢49.72 million expenditure. The Minority argues that the Ministry's records reveal financial losses exceeding GH¢16.4 million, citing discrepancies in reintegration grants, transport allowances, and flight records.

The evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians between May 27 and September 4, 2026, was prompted by a resurgence of xenophobic attacks and intimidation against foreign nationals in South Africa. The Ministry's report, submitted to the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, on September 18, includes over 200 pages detailing the evacuation process, but the Minority remains unconvinced.