Accounting for the South Africa Evacuation: A Case for Transparency and Cooperation

The Minority in Parliament is calling for an independent audit of the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa. According to The Source's front page of 12 October 2026, the Minority says about GH¢10.4 million cannot be reconciled with the documents provided by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Common ground on the evacuation itself
The decision to bring Ghanaians home after renewed xenophobic attacks has not been in dispute. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that GH¢49,721,786 was spent to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians.

The Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, said the Minority supported the evacuation from the outset, but that this support is not a waiver of the need for transparency and accountability. The government has described the operation as a swift humanitarian response to protect citizens affected by renewed violence.

The figures and the questions
The Minister's breakdown shows GH¢38.84 million for chartered flights, tickets, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation and medical care; GH¢10.80 million for reintegration support and transport allowances; and GH¢84,274 for repatriating the remains of two Ghanaians.

Mr Jinapor noted that these figures imply an average of roughly GH¢25,000, or about US$2,200, per evacuee. He also stressed that protecting citizens' lives should not be reduced to a monetary calculation, though value for money remains important.

At a press conference on 10 September, Deputy Ranking Member Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh said the Minority's own review of publicly announced travel dates and numbers did not add up to 1,964. He asked for passenger manifests, ticket receipts, service provider invoices and payment ledgers, and made clear that no private details such as passport numbers or medical information are being sought. The Minority has also said it will use every provision of the Right to Information Act to obtain answers.

A path forward
Both sides agree on the purpose of the exercise, and both can gain from an open reconciliation. The Ministry may wish to share an itemised account, and the Minority has said it wants verification, not political accusations. If an audit is carried out, the Auditor-General or the relevant parliamentary committee could provide an independent, non-partisan assessment, and its findings would protect public confidence in this and future evacuations.

Ghanaians abroad should be able to trust that their government will act when they are in danger. Ghanaians at home should be able to see that public funds spent on their behalf are accounted for. A transparent reconciliation would serve both.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

Sources
The Source, front page, Monday, 12 October 2026, No. 114/26.

MyJoyOnline, "Minority calls for itemised bill on GH¢49.7 million South Africa evacuation expenditure": myjoyonline.com/minority-calls-for-itemised-bill-on-gh%c2%a249-7-million-south-africa-evacuation-expenditure/

MyJoyOnline, "Abu Jinapor demands transparency over GH¢49.72m evacuation cost": myjoyonline.com/abu-jinapor-demands-transparency-over-gh%c2%a249-72m-evacuation-cost/

MyJoyOnline, "Minority demands documents to account for GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation cost": myjoyonline.com/minority-demands-documents-to-account-for-gh%c2%a249-7m-south-africa-evacuation-cost/

Rainbow Radio Online, "Minority Demands Paperwork for GH¢49.7m South Africa Evacuation" (10 September 2026): rainbowradioonline.com/2026/09/10/

minority-demands-paperwork-for-gh%c2%a249-7m-south-africa-evacuation/

3News, "Minority demands documentary evidence on GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation spending": preview.3news.com/politics/minority-demands-documents-to-verify-gh-49-7m-evacuation-cost

3News, "South Africa evacuation: Our contrary figures are lesser than the 1,964 figure": preview.3news.com/news/we-have-contrary-figures-which-do-not-add-up-minority