SA evacuation is not the highest; COVID-19 evacuation cost us GH₵96m – Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that Ghana spent GH¢96.97 million on evacuating citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is more than the GH¢49.72 million spent on the recent evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa. According to the records available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the COVID-19 evacuation cost the taxpayer nearly twice as much, even though most Ghanaians paid for their own air tickets, quarantine, and COVID-19 tests.

During an appearance on JoyNews's Newsfile program, Ablakwa emphasized that the figures should be considered in a comparative analysis, stating that an audit has been initiated to determine how the money was spent. He highlighted that more than 80 percent of Ghanaians who returned during the pandemic had paid for their flights, while state support was limited to a small number of vulnerable individuals who could not afford the costs.

The Minister clarified that Ghanaians were responsible for both their air tickets and quarantine costs during the COVID-19 evacuation. The government incurred GH¢44 million in quarantine expenses for those who returned, which was part of the total GH¢96.97 million expenditure. He expressed surprise at the high cost and requested an audit to better understand the financial implications, adding that he did not accuse anyone of wrongdoing until the audit was completed.