Clerical errors could explain discrepancies in evacuation records – Shamima Muslim

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim has cautioned against interpreting discrepancies in records covering the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa as evidence of criminal activity, suggesting that administrative mistakes could account for some of the inconsistencies.

Her comments come after Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ben Quashie, admitted that errors had been detected in some evacuation records, including instances where passport expiry dates were wrongly captured as dates of birth.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana, hosted by Moro Awudu, Ms Muslim said mistakes could arise when institutions use multiple registration documents to collect information and record payments.

Drawing on her experience in civil society and workshop organisation, she explained that participants sometimes provide complete details on one registration form but leave out information on another.

“When you do your registration list, then you do another list that you have to sign for receiving money,” she said.

She noted that while one document might capture a participant’s name, age, telephone number and email address, a separate form could be used to record the amount received and obtain the recipient’s signature.

“Sometimes people would take, I am speaking as someone who used to organise workshops for the Legal Resources Centre, you people will sign the main one, in the second one they will not even add the number,” she said.

Ms Muslim said such differences could result in inconsistencies in records, making it necessary for authorities to investigate and correct any errors identified.

She argued that the discrepancies should not automatically be treated as proof of wrongdoing, insisting that the records must first be examined to establish the nature and extent of the problems.

According to her, the audit ordered by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa would help determine whether the irregularities were merely clerical errors or pointed to more serious lapses in the evacuation process.