The Secretary-General of Ghana's Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, has come to the defence of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, dismissing allegations of financial irregularities in the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa as baseless. According to Koomson, the attacks on Ablakwa by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) may be linked to the minister's previous disclosures about the alleged extravagant lifestyle of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The controversy surrounding the evacuation exercise has led to calls by the Minority in Parliament for Ablakwa's resignation or dismissal over alleged financial discrepancies. The Minority claims that more than GH¢16 million remains unaccounted for out of the GH¢49.72 million reportedly spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa between May 27 and September 4, 2026. However, Ablakwa has maintained that he and his ministry did nothing wrong in handling the exercise.
Koomson expressed confidence in Ablakwa's integrity, citing his track record of patriotism and commitment to Ghana's development. He suggested that the NPP's opposition to Ablakwa could partly stem from his leading role in resisting the proposed sale of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels in 2024. Koomson recalled receiving a telephone call from Ablakwa, which helped workers mobilise against the proposed transaction.
According to Koomson, organised labour was concerned about the proposed sale but lacked the financial resources and organisational capacity to mount an effective campaign until Ablakwa provided an opportunity for workers to publicly express their opposition. The GFL Secretary-General claimed that Ablakwa's leadership and advocacy helped prevent the transaction from proceeding.
Turning to the allegations surrounding the South Africa evacuation, Koomson argued that any discrepancies identified in the documentation could have resulted from typographical errors or the urgency of the operation, rather than deliberate wrongdoing. He said the evacuation took place amid reports of xenophobic attacks and mistreatment of Ghanaians in South Africa, creating pressure to bring the affected nationals home as quickly as possible.
Koomson also argued that Ablakwa should not be personally blamed for every alleged error in the paperwork, suggesting that the minister would not have been directly responsible for completing all the forms involved in the exercise. He maintained that Ablakwa gave the desired results in the evacuation exercise.
Koomson's defence of Ablakwa comes amid growing political debate over the cost and accountability of the evacuation exercise. The Minority is demanding answers over the alleged financial discrepancies, while the Foreign Affairs Ministry maintains that the process was properly handled. The controversy continues to unfold, with various stakeholders calling for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
Key points
- Abraham Koomson defends Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa against NPP allegations of financial irregularities.
- Koomson suggests NPP attacks may be linked to Ablakwa's disclosures about former President Akufo-Addo's lifestyle.
- The evacuation exercise has sparked a political debate over cost and accountability, with the Minority demanding answers over alleged financial discrepancies.
