NPP gives Ablakwa seven days to account for GH¢16m South Africa evacuation expenditure

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has given Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa seven days to release documents detailing expenditure on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.

The party has warned that it will take further action if the minister fails to provide the requested records within the stipulated period.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, October 18, 2026, NPP Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye demanded the release of charter flight invoices and contracts, payment vouchers, signed payment records and a complete list of evacuees, including proof of payment for each person.

“Produce the complete set of documents within 7 days,” Mr Aboagye said, urging the minister to make the records available in response to the Right to Information (RTI) request and to the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

The party is also demanding details of how the charter operator was selected under the Public Procurement Act, as well as an explanation of the reported GH¢16 million expenditure, including whether the funds were paid in cash or used to procure services and other items.

Mr Aboagye further called for clarification over discrepancies involving figures related to ASKY Airlines and different versions of a letter identified as CC/7.

The NPP wants the minister to disclose which version of the letter was submitted to the Auditor-General.

Beyond the release of the documents, the party is calling for an independent audit by an internationally recognised firm, with both the terms of reference and the findings made public.

Although the NPP welcomed the Auditor-General’s review of the expenditure, Mr Aboagye said the review should not be the only measure adopted to ensure accountability.

He warned that failure to comply with the demands would compel the party to support the Minority in Parliament in pursuing the matter, including through urgent questions to the minister.

The NPP also said it intends to formally petition the Auditor-General to prioritise the evacuation expenditure in the special audit and pursue further remedies under the Right to Information Act.

Mr Aboagye questioned Mr Ablakwa’s commitment to transparency, arguing that the minister had previously demanded detailed explanations of public expenditure from successive governments while in opposition.

According to the NPP, the same standards of accountability should apply to the current administration.

“The 1,964 Ghanaians who fled South Africa suffered enough. They should not now become a headline figure behind which public money cannot be traced,” the party said.

The NPP maintained that publishing the requested records would help establish how public funds were utilised and address concerns over the cost and management of the evacuation exercise.