The Minority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament has requested an independent audit of the government's GH¢49.72 million expenditure on evacuating citizens from South Africa. This call follows the caucus's review of documents submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which raised concerns over discrepancies in expenditure records and payments to returnees. The caucus examined the documents after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided them in response to a Right to Information request.
Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, disclosed that the review identified over GH¢16.4 million in expenditure requiring further clarification. The caucus found concerns relating to reintegration grants, transport allowances, commercial flight records, duplicate entries, and payments involving minors. According to the Minority, the documents do not fully reconcile with the government's reported expenditure or the total of 1,964 people said to have been evacuated.
The evacuation exercise was conducted from May 27 to September 4, 2026, following renewed xenophobic violence and intimidation against foreign nationals in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the operation cost GH¢49,721,786, comprising GH¢33,721,786 in direct government funding and GH¢16 million in support from Engineers & Planners, a company owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama.
The government indicated that each returnee received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and GH¢500 to cover transportation costs. The Minority Caucus, however, insists that the emergency nature of the operation does not remove the need for transparent financial accountability. Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh requested detailed expenditure statements, payment registers, flight manifests, procurement records, and other documents to support the government's figures.
The Ministry provided over 200 pages of records, which the Minority examined individually and subjected to independent third-party scrutiny. One concern raised involves the registers for reintegration grants and transport allowances, where only 824 names appeared on both lists, compared to the 1,964 people the government reported as having been evacuated and paid the two allowances. This discrepancy potentially accounts for GH¢6.27 million.
The Minority Caucus is seeking clarification from the Ministry on whether the gaps resulted from incomplete documentation, missing signatures, alternative payment arrangements, or other circumstances. The caucus maintains that an independent audit would help establish the accuracy of the expenditure figures, verify payments to beneficiaries, and account for the public and private resources committed to the evacuation exercise.
Although the Minority Caucus acknowledges the humanitarian significance of bringing Ghanaians home amid the violence, they stress the need for further verification and explanations from the Ministry. The caucus has not established that money was stolen or that the number of beneficiaries was deliberately inflated. An independent audit is expected to provide clarity on the expenditure and ensure transparent financial accountability.
Key points
- The Minority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament requests an independent audit of the government's GH¢49.72 million expenditure on evacuating citizens from South Africa.
- The caucus found discrepancies in expenditure records and payments to returnees, including concerns over reintegration grants, transport allowances, and commercial flight records.
- An independent audit is expected to establish the accuracy of the expenditure figures, verify payments to beneficiaries, and account for the public and private resources committed to the evacuation exercise.
