{
  "id": 8417097,
  "title": "Foreign Affairs Ministry requests special audit of evacuation spending since 2017 to date",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/foreign-affairs-ministry-requests-special-audit-of-evacuation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T08:28:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/foreign-affairs-ministry-requests-special-audit-of-evacuation-spending-since-2017-to-date/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Ghana has requested the Auditor-General to conduct a special audit of government-funded emergency evacuation operations carried out since 2017, encompassing recent evacuations from South Africa and other international incidents. The Auditor-General will undertake an independent evaluation of the financial and administrative aspects of these operations, which often necessitate urgent coordination for transportation, lodging, logistical support, consular aid, medical assistance, and psychological aid. The review is anticipated to encompass at least four significant evacuations: the COVID-19 evacuations in 2020, the Ukraine evacuation in 2022, the Sudan evacuation in 2023, and the most recent South Africa evacuation in 2026. The Ministry has also extended an invitation to the Auditor-General to investigate any other evacuation exercises deemed pertinent to the review.\n\nThe objective of the audit is to furnish an impartial appraisal of public funding utilization during these operations, accounting for the extraordinary circumstances under which they were executed. It is also intended to uncover insights that could fortify the Ministry's preparedness and internal controls for prospective emergencies. The Ministry has mandated a distinct assessment for each evacuation operation, disclosing its expenses, findings, observations, and recommendations.\n\nThis request follows an ongoing inquiry from the opposition in Parliament concerning the expenditure incurred during the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, spurred by xenophobic incidents. The government designated the total cost of this operation at GH¢49.72 million, encompassing airfare, land transportation, and auxiliary aid for the returning citizens. The Ministry has since furnished the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, with a comprehensive report surpassing 200 pages in response to his request under the Right to Information Act.\n\nHowever, the proposed special audit transcends the South Africa operation and will scrutinize government-funded evacuations undertaken since 2017. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has pledged its cooperation to the Auditor-General and assured the provision of pertinent financial and administrative records at its disposal to expedite the audit. The broader review aims to foster transparency, accountability, and effective governance while bolstering the government's capability to respond to future emergencies affecting Ghanaians residing abroad.",
  "summary": "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Auditor-General to conduct a special audit of government-funded emergency evacuation exercises undertaken since 2017, including the recent evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Foreign Affairs Ministry submits 200-page report to Minority on GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/foreign-affairs-ministry-submits-200-page-report-to-minority-on-gh-49",
        "published": "2026-09-19T07:48:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}