South Africa evacuation: Minority boycotts Foreign Affairs Committee meeting over absence of GH¢50m expenditure details 

The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has said it will not participate in a closed-door meeting on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa until the government provides a detailed account of the expenditure.

The committee is scheduled to meet today, Wednesday, September 16, with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expected to brief members on the evacuation exercise.

The Minority said it supports the government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaian nationals whose safety was threatened by xenophobic attacks in South Africa but insists that the use of public funds must be properly accounted for.

“We do not consider it appropriate to participate in a closed-door meeting intended to discuss the same subject matter while our formal request for the underlying expenditure records remains outstanding,” a statement dated September 15, read in part.

The Minority said it submitted a formal request under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), on August 17, seeking detailed information and supporting documents on the cost and financing of the exercise.

The request, which was received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 25, sought information on expenditure on flights and other transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration payments.

It also requested details on the sources of funding and the identities and contributions of private partners involved in the exercise, as well as relevant procurement and payment records.

On September 7, Ablakwa announced that almost GH¢50 million had been spent on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.

The Minority, however, said it had not received the itemised account and supporting documents it requested to enable Parliament and the public to establish how the money was spent.

It said the government’s responsibility to account for public funds goes beyond announcing the total amount spent and includes providing details on how the expenditure was incurred.

The Minority has therefore demanded full disclosure of the expenditure before it participates in any parliamentary engagement on the matter.

“The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament will not participate in the closed-door meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 16th September 2026, unless and until the Ministry provides the itemized account and supporting records requested,” it said.