Ghana MP Confident in OSP's SA Evacuation Probe

The Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Mohammed Issah Bataglia, has expressed confidence that the Office of the Special Prosecutor's investigation into the GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa will find no wrongdoing. The OSP announced on November 9 that it was examining allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences arising from the expenditure on the evacuation exercise. Bataglia's comments were made on Accra-based JoyNews' AM Show on November 10.

The OSP's examination follows concerns about alleged discrepancies between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' reported expenditure and payment records for the evacuation exercise. The Minority in Parliament had earlier questioned aspects of the GH¢49.7 million expenditure, citing alleged duplicate entries, inadequate supporting documents and payments recorded against some beneficiaries who claim they did not receive the money.

The evacuation exercise, which took place between May 27 and September 4, 2026, brought 1,964 Ghanaians home following xenophobic attacks and threats against foreign nationals in South Africa. The Ministry reported spending GH¢49,721,786 on the exercise, covering chartered flights, commercial tickets, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration allowances.

Bataglia believes the explanations provided by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa will withstand scrutiny and that the investigation will not establish any financial impropriety. He stated that he was completely convinced that the OSP would not find anything untoward after the probe.

The OSP's examination seeks to establish whether the funds were properly accounted for and disbursed, identify the actual recipients and determine whether any public officer or private individual improperly benefited. The probe is expected to shed light on the management of the evacuation exercise and provide clarity on the allegations of corruption.

The Minority in Parliament's concerns about the expenditure were raised earlier, with some beneficiaries claiming they did not receive the money. The OSP's investigation is expected to provide answers to these concerns and determine whether any irregularities occurred during the evacuation exercise.

The outcome of the OSP's investigation is awaited, as it will determine whether any further action is needed regarding the evacuation exercise. The probe is a significant development in the management of the exercise, which was undertaken to assist Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Key points

• The OSP is examining allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences arising from the GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa.
• The evacuation exercise brought 1,964 Ghanaians home following xenophobic attacks and threats against foreign nationals in South Africa.
• The OSP's investigation seeks to establish whether the funds were properly accounted for and disbursed.