Let the Audit Speak: The Case for Giving Ablakwa Room to Work ‎

His supporters describe Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as a "one, two, three, fire" minister, one who acts quickly where predecessors were slow.

Now the Minority wants him gone. It has demanded his resignation over the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, and threatens a vote of censure under Article 82 of the Constitution.

Those who back him say this is the wrong response, for five reasons.

He acted when citizens were in danger. The evacuation ran from 27 May to 4 September 2026, after xenophobic attacks in South Africa, and brought home 1,964 Ghanaians. Supporters ask what the alternative was, and note that returnees themselves have defended him. One told the media he "didn't sleep" while helping them.

He published the numbers. Ablakwa disclosed the cost of GH¢49.72 million at a briefing on 7 September . He says he answered the Minority's Right to Information request and wrote to the Auditor-General for a full investigation, and called this the first time a Foreign Minister has fully accounted for an evacuation [6]. A minister hiding something does not usually invite an audit.

The cost has context. Ablakwa says government paid GH¢33.7 million, with GH¢16 million donated by Engineers and Planners, and that the 2020 COVID-19 evacuation cost taxpayers GH¢96.97 million even though most evacuees paid their own fares. By his account, this operation was cheaper and also gave each returnee a reintegration package.

The allowances reached people. Ministry figures show GH¢10.8 million paid out at GH¢5,500 each to 1,964 returnees, which he says included children. He has challenged any evacuee who was not paid to come forward.

Politics should not replace process. Supporters point out that the Minority's own demand is for an independent audit. If an audit is the remedy, they say, a resignation before it reports pre-judges the result.

The Minority has also criticized the BRICS decision, yet Ablakwa says the previous NPP cabinet also considered joining the bloc. His supporters see a pattern of opposition to whatever the minister does.

The other side. Critics answer that scrutiny of public money is not persecution. The Minority's ranking member, Samuel Abu Jinapor, says the demand for an investigation is oversight, not political targeting, and that a minister committed to transparency should step aside for an independent inquiry .

The Minority also questions documents on the charter flights and the $750,000 flight quote, and alleges a GH¢16.4 million gap and wants an audit by an internationally reputable firm.

In Ottawa on 25 October, diaspora members confronted the minister with criticism and demands for accountability, after he pointed to ministry officials over the financial arrangements . Ablakwa rejects all of these claims, and none has yet been settled by an audit.

A fair-minded reader can hold two views at once. Ablakwa deserves credit for moving fast to bring citizens home, and the public deserves a clear, independent answer on the spending. The audit he says he welcomes is the proper way to settle it.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880

References
Ghanaian Times, "Minority demands Ablakwa's resignation over South Africa evacuation", 27 Oct 2026

Citi Newsroom, "Minority threatens vote of censure against Okudzeto Ablakwa", 27 Oct 2026

GhanaWeb, "'Not a pesewa is missing' from GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation", 17 Oct 2026

GhanaWeb, "'Anyone who criticises Ablakwa harshly will have diarrhoea' – South African returnee", 26 Oct 2026

Pulse Ghana, "Ablakwa rejects allegations of missing funds", Oct 2026

3News, "I have nothing to hide, I'm prepared for probe – Ablakwa", 10 Oct 2026

Graphic Online, "No pesewa missing in South Africa evacuation — Ablakwa to Minority", Oct 2026

NewsGhana, "Ablakwa Rejects Claims South Africa Evacuees Were Short-Paid", Oct 2026

Pulse Ghana, as in 5
Graphic Online, "Minority criticism of BRICS move disingenuous – Ablakwa", 10 Oct 2026

Ghanaian Times, "Abu Jinapor describes South Africa evacuation as alleged scheme to siphon public funds", 27 Oct 2026

GhanaWeb, "Ablakwa spearheaded calculated effort to steal from Ghanaians – Abu Jinapor", 27 Oct 2026

GhanaWeb, "Okudzeto Ablakwa distances himself from South African evacuation saga", 25 Oct 2026