Majority Caucus defends GH¢49.72m spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa

The Majority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has defended the GH¢49.72 million expenditure on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, insisting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided a comprehensive account of the operation.

The caucus said the documentation submitted by the ministry represented a significant step towards strengthening transparency and parliamentary accountability in the management of evacuation exercises.

It has consequently backed a request for the Auditor-General to conduct an independent and comprehensive audit of evacuation exercises undertaken since 2017, including operations involving Ghanaians in Ukraine, Sudan and South Africa, as well as the COVID-19 evacuation exercise in 2020.

“The comprehensiveness and meticulous detail of these records underscore the ministry's commitment to transparency, financial probity and parliamentary accountability,” it said.

Ministry submits detailed evacuation records

The Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, disclosed the caucus’s position at a press conference, stating that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a comprehensive report on September 18, this year, detailing the evacuees and the financial transactions associated with the exercise.

According to him, the report contained information on all 1,964 evacuees, including their names, dates of birth, passport numbers, professions, contact details, amounts received and signatures.

He said the documentation also covered minors, whose particulars were accompanied by the required attestations from their parents or legal guardians.

Mr. Vanderpuije added that the ministry provided receipts and supporting documents for chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, transportation, feeding, accommodation and other logistical arrangements made by Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa.

The records, he said, also included evidence of a GH¢16 million donation from Ibrahim Mahama of Engineers and Planners, alongside correspondence and letters of appreciation acknowledging the contribution.

“Not a single name is missing or unaccounted for,” he said, referring to the list of evacuees submitted to the committee.

He maintained that the Majority Caucus was satisfied with the documentation after examining the ministry’s submission.

“The Majority Caucus, having had the benefit of a careful and thorough examination of the report submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can state with the utmost conviction and without the slightest equivocation that the ministry has rendered an exceptionally comprehensive, impeccable and credible account of the evacuation exercise,” he said.

Vanderpuije rejects allegations against Ablakwa

Mr. Vanderpuije also rejected allegations against the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, arguing that the ministry’s submission demonstrated its commitment to transparency and parliamentary accountability.

He disclosed that Mr. Ablakwa had voluntarily offered to brief the committee after the evacuation exercise but claimed that members of the Minority Caucus boycotted the engagement.

The Majority Caucus, he said, considered the subsequent public allegations inconsistent with the opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny that had been offered.

He maintained that the caucus would rely on documented evidence rather than political accusations in assessing the expenditure.

Majority backs independent audit of evacuation exercises

On the proposed audit, Mr. Vanderpuije confirmed receiving a copy of a letter dated September 17, addressed to the Auditor-General, requesting an independent and comprehensive examination of evacuation exercises undertaken from 2017 onwards.

The proposed audit is expected to cover the COVID-19 evacuation in 2020, the evacuation of Ghanaians from Ukraine in 2022, the Sudan operation in 2023 and the recent exercise in South Africa.

It would also include any other evacuation exercise the Auditor-General considers relevant.

Mr. Vanderpuije said the audit would help establish the facts and ensure that expenditure incurred under successive administrations was subjected to consistent standards of accountability.

He argued that accountability should be applied comprehensively and impartially rather than selectively for partisan purposes.

The caucus further drew attention to the reported GH¢44.46 million spent on quarantine arrangements during the 2020 COVID-19 evacuation under the previous administration, insisting that expenditure associated with earlier operations should also be scrutinised.

The chairman said the caucus welcomed an independent examination of the expenditure and would not substitute political claims for evidence.

Caucus addresses GH¢5,500 evacuation allowance

Mr. Vanderpuije also said the Majority Caucus had not received any complaint from an evacuated Ghanaian alleging that they had not received the GH¢5,500 integration and transportation allowance.

He maintained that the total expenditure of GH¢49,721,786 represented an accurate account of the South Africa evacuation exercise.

The caucus commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Ablakwa for their handling of the operation, describing the submission of supporting documents as evidence of administrative diligence.

Mr. Vanderpuije urged the minister to remain focused on his responsibilities to Ghanaians both at home and abroad.