Minority urges independent audit of GHS49.7m South Africa evacuation

The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has called for an independent audit into the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.

The group cited what it described as alleged discrepancies in the expenditure records provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament House on Tuesday, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the group’s concerns followed the evacuation exercise for 1,964 Ghanaians, which Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, said “costs GHS49,721,786.”

According to the Minority, it submitted a request under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989) for an itemised account and supporting documents on the exercise.

“An examination of the documents received from the Ministry revealed differences between the figures announced publicly and entries in the payment registers, including duplicated entries and gaps in supporting records,” Mr Jinapor said.

He stated that the Caucus had initially raised the concerns publicly and called for an audit.

“The Minister subsequently made a media appearance to defend the Ministry’s handling of the exercise, but our further enquiries and independent media reports have raised additional questions, including allegations by some evacuees that they did not receive allowances recorded in their names and payments recorded without signatures or receipts,” he alleged.

The Minority also responded to claims at a separate press conference by alleged persons who identified themselves as evacuees that the Minority had paid evacuees to speak against the government. The Caucus denied the allegation, stating that no evacuee was engaged or paid to speak against the government.

Mr Jinapor, also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Damango, expressed concern over reports that the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria had warned evacuees not to speak to the media and said evacuees should be allowed to share their experiences freely.

On the basis of the group’s findings, the Minority made four demands: a comprehensive independent audit of the evacuation exercise by an internationally reputable accounting firm; the resignation of Mr Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to allow for an impartial investigation, in line with Section 2.1(j) of the 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees;

“If the minister does not resign, President John Mahama should terminate his appointment under Article 81(a) of the Constitution.

“That should the minister remain in office, the minority would consider initiating a vote of censure process under Article 82 of the Constitution and Order 138 of Parliament's Standing Orders,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously defended its handling of the evacuation.

GNA