SA Evacuation: If Ablakwa wanted Ibrahim Mahama’s GH¢16m, he wouldn’t make it public – Bataglia

The Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Mohammed Issah Bataglia, has defended Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over the GH¢16 million contribution from businessman Ibrahim Mahama towards Ghana’s evacuation of citizens from South Africa.

Mr Bataglia argued that the minister would not have publicly disclosed the contribution if he intended to obtain the money through questionable means.

His comments come amid scrutiny of the GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa between May 27 and September 4, following xenophobic attacks and threats against foreign nationals.

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews' AM Show on Tuesday, November 10, the MP said he was convinced by the explanations provided by Mr Ablakwa, adding that the minister would have secured the businessman’s support through a private conversation if he wanted the money for improper reasons.

“If indeed Okudzeto wanted GH¢16 million from Ibrahim Mahama, he would not have made it public before collecting it,” he said.

The MP's comments follow concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament about alleged discrepancies in the expenditure records provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Minority, after reviewing documents released by the Ministry in response to a Right to Information request, identified what it described as gaps in payment records, duplicate entries and inconsistencies in the documentation of beneficiaries.

The caucus estimated that about GH¢16.4 million in the expenditure required further explanation and called for an independent audit of the evacuation exercise.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Monday, November 9, announced that it was examining allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences arising from the expenditure.

The OSP said its examination was focused on alleged discrepancies between the Ministry's reported expenditure and payment records, including duplicate entries, inadequate supporting documents and payments recorded against beneficiaries who claim they did not receive the money.

However, the Office stressed that its examination concerned the management of public funds and not the government's humanitarian decision to evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa.

The lawmaker, however, stressed that he was satisfied with the explanations provided by the Foreign Affairs Minister, particularly the 200-page documentation presented in response to concerns raised about the exercise.

“I am more than convinced because if he needed that amount of money, I am sure that through a private conversation with Ibrahim Mahama, he would get it,” he added.