The Minority caucus in Ghana's Parliament has called for an independent audit of the government's GH¢49.72 million evacuation exercise from South Africa. Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, presented allegations of discrepancies in records supplied by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The caucus claims that over GH¢16.4 million requires further explanation. This follows a review of documents provided by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in response to a Right to Information request.
The evacuation exercise, which began on May 27 and ended on September 4, 2026, was in response to renewed xenophobic violence and intimidation against foreign nationals in South Africa. According to the Ministry, a total of 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated. The government reported expenditure of 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 Minority caucus reviewed over 200 pages of records supplied by the Ministry and subjected them to independent third-party scrutiny. A central concern relates to the registers for reintegration grants and transport allowances. Only 824 names could be matched across both lists, compared to the 1,964 people the government said had been evacuated and given the two payments. This discrepancy amounts to GH¢6.27 million.
The Minority argues that the documents reviewed do not adequately establish payment of the GH¢6.27 million. They want the Ministry to explain whether the gaps reflect incomplete records, missing signatures, separate payment arrangements, or other circumstances. The caucus also requested itemized expenditure records, payment registers, flight manifests, procurement details, and other supporting documents.
The government's evacuation exercise covered chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation, medical care, reintegration support, and other logistical expenses. Each evacuee received a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 transport allowance. While acknowledging the humanitarian importance of the operation, the Minority says its emergency nature did not relieve it of the obligation to account for the funds spent.
The allegations do not establish that funds were stolen or beneficiary numbers deliberately inflated. However, the issues raised require verification of the underlying records and a response from the Ministry. The Minority caucus is demanding transparency and accountability in the use of public funds for the evacuation exercise.
The Minority caucus's demand for an independent audit is the latest development in the controversy surrounding the evacuation exercise. The issue has sparked public debate, with many Ghanaians calling for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. The government has yet to respond to the Minority caucus's allegations and demands.
Key points
- The Minority caucus is seeking an independent audit of the government's GH¢49.72 million evacuation exercise from South Africa.
- Discrepancies in records supplied by the Foreign Affairs Ministry have raised concerns about the use of over GH¢16.4 million.
- The Minority caucus has reviewed over 200 pages of records and subjected them to independent third-party scrutiny, revealing gaps in the payment of reintegration grants and transport allowances.
