A member of Ghana's New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team, Kwasi Kwarteng, has called for an independent audit of the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa during a period of heightened xenophobic tensions. Kwarteng's demand follows concerns over alleged discrepancies in payment registers and flight records submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He made these comments on Channel One TV's The Big Issue with Sammie Wiafe on October 31.
The evacuation exercise, which was carried out to rescue Ghanaians from South Africa, has been questioned by the Minority in Parliament. They raised concerns about the number of Ghanaians evacuated and the expenditure incurred, including the cost of chartered flights and transportation and reintegration allowances paid to returnees. Kwarteng stressed the need for a credible and transparent review process that would command public confidence.
Kwarteng suggested that internationally recognised audit firms such as KPMG and Deloitte could be considered for the exercise. He argued that the process must be open and credible enough for Ghanaians to trust its findings. He clarified that his call should not be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the Auditor-General's office, but rather as an effort to ensure that any conclusions reached are widely accepted and beyond reproach.
The NPP communicator also cautioned against prematurely accusing Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of misappropriating public funds. He acknowledged that he could not determine how much, if any, money had been improperly spent. Kwarteng stated that he was slow in hastily concluding that the minister had stolen state money.
However, Kwarteng maintained that the minister had yet to provide a comprehensive and satisfactory account of the expenditure. He expressed his belief that the minister had not been able to provide an efficient, effective, and conclusive account of what he expended. The Minority has questioned the reported GH¢49.72 million expenditure, raising concerns about the cost of the chartered flights and the allowances paid to evacuees.
The evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa was carried out during a period of heightened xenophobic tensions. A total of 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated, and the exercise cost GH¢49.72 million. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted payment registers and flight records, but these have been questioned by the Minority in Parliament and Kwarteng.
The call for an independent audit is aimed at ensuring transparency and public confidence in the evacuation exercise. Kwarteng's demand for an audit is supported by the need for a credible review process. The exercise has raised concerns about the use of public funds, and an independent audit is expected to provide clarity on the matter.
Key points
- Kwasi Kwarteng calls for independent audit of GH¢49.7m spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa.
- The Minority in Parliament questions the expenditure incurred in the evacuation exercise.
- An independent audit is expected to provide transparency and public confidence in the evacuation exercise.
