Chartered flights account for GH¢27.18m of South Africa evacuation cost

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent GH¢27.18 million on chartered flights during the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, accounting for more than half of the GH¢49.72 million total cost of the operation.

The expenditure on air charters was the single largest component of the evacuation, which brought 1,964 Ghanaians back to the country between May 27 and September 4, 2026.

Details contained in documents released by the Ministry in response to a Right to Information (RTI) request by the Minority in Parliament show that GH¢27,183,700 was paid for chartered flights.

An additional GH¢9,420,463.68 was spent on flight tickets and layover-related expenses, taking the total expenditure directly associated with air transportation to more than GH¢36.6 million.

The evacuation also included GH¢10.802 million in reintegration and transportation allowances for the returnees. Each evacuee received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and GH¢500 for travel and transportation, bringing the total support per person to GH¢5,500.

The government said the payments were designed to assist the returnees with their immediate needs and support their reintegration into society following their return from South Africa.

Other costs incurred during the exercise included GH¢997,644 for ground transportation in South Africa, GH¢634,349.99 for feeding and GH¢141,797.86 for hotel accommodation.

The government further spent GH¢20,148 on medical services and hospitalisation, while GH¢153,728.09 went towards communication-related expenses, including airtime, internet data and the establishment of an evacuation centre.

Printing services accounted for GH¢98,151, with another GH¢162,917.76 spent on logistics such as sanitation and screening materials.

The repatriation and autopsy of two mortal remains cost GH¢84,274, while miscellaneous expenditure amounted to GH¢22,610.84.

Beyond the financial assistance, the returnees were provided with medical screening, registration with the National Health Insurance Scheme, SIM cards loaded with airtime and data, as well as food packages.

The International Organisation for Migration, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Red Cross also supported the exercise by providing psychosocial assistance, logistics, hot meals and water.

The Church of Pentecost, meanwhile, provided accommodation for affected Ghanaians in Pretoria, Kempton Park and Johannesburg.

Government funded bulk of operation
The Government of Ghana contributed GH¢33,721,786 towards the evacuation, while Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, provided GH¢16 million.

The government has maintained that the entire cost of the operation has been paid and that no liabilities remain outstanding.

The evacuation commenced on May 27, with the initial flights giving priority to vulnerable persons, including children, people who were sick, older persons and women.

The final group of 41 evacuees arrived in Accra on September 4, marking the completion of the exercise.

The government has described the evacuation as an emergency intervention prompted by deteriorating security conditions and anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of South Africa.

The release of the expenditure details comes as the Minority continues to seek documentary evidence supporting the government's financial account of the operation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested a special audit covering government-funded evacuation exercises from 2017 to date, including operations undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and the evacuations from Ukraine, Sudan and South Africa.