{
  "id": 15175832,
  "title": "Not a cedi missing in South Africa evacuation exercise – Ablakwa",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/not-a-cedi-missing-in-south-africa-evacuation-exercise-ablakwa-15175832",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T10:20:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/not-a-cedi-missing-in-south-africa-evacuation-exercise-ablakwa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has firmly rejected allegations of corruption surrounding the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, asserting that no Cedi has been lost from the funds allocated to the operation. During an appearance on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, October 17, 2026, Ablakwa firmly denied the claims made by the Minority in Parliament that his management of the exercise resulted in financial losses for the state. The Minister stated unequivocally, \"I can state without any doubt that not a cedi, not a pesewa is missing.\" The Minority's demand for an independent audit of the GH¢49.72 million expenditure stems from their allegation that Ministry records show over GH¢16.4 million requiring further clarification, including discrepancies in reintegration grants, transport allowances, and flight records. Between May 27 and September 4, 2026, the evacuation successfully returned 1,964 Ghanaians to the country amid escalating xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Ministry provided a comprehensive 200-page report in response to a Right to Information request by Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, which included evacuees' contact information and signatures.",
  "summary": "Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has rejected allegations of corruption in the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, insisting that not a Cedi is missing from funds spent on the exercise. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 17, 2026, Mr Ablakwa dismissed the Minority in Parliament’s claims that his handling of the operation […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Nobel prize is a powerful moral affirmation for South Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/nobel-prize-is-a-powerful-moral-affirmation-for-south-africa",
        "published": "2026-10-17T07:26:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Cummins and his men are flying. Here’s why South Africa could do the unthinkable",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/cummins-and-his-men-are-flying-heres-why-south-africa-could-do-the",
        "published": "2026-10-17T08:41:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Cummins and his men are flying. Here’s why South Africa could do the unthinkable",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/cummins-and-his-men-are-flying-heres-why-south-africa-could-do-the-15161602",
        "published": "2026-10-17T08:41:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Not a cedi missing in South Africa evacuation exercise – Ablakwa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/not-a-cedi-missing-in-south-africa-evacuation-exercise-ablakwa",
        "published": "2026-10-17T09:06:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "South Africa still mulling over permutations for second test against Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/south-africa-still-mulling-over-permutations-for-second-test-against",
        "published": "2026-10-17T12:18:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Rio Times",
        "title": "KALEO Debuts in South Africa on 4 and 6 February 2027",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/kaleo-debuts-in-south-africa-on-4-and-6-february-2027",
        "published": "2026-10-17T12:20:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}