SA evacuation: I’m convinced OSP will find nothing untoward after probe – Bataglia

The Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Mohammed Issah Bataglia, has expressed confidence that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) will find no wrongdoing in its examination of the GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa.

He believes the explanations provided by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa will withstand scrutiny and that the investigation will not establish any financial impropriety.

His comments come after the OSP announced on Monday, November 9, that it was examining allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences arising from the expenditure on the evacuation exercise.

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews' AM Show on Tuesday, November 10, Mr Bataglia said he was convinced that the examination would not uncover any wrongdoing.

“I am completely convinced that they won't find anything,” he said.

The OSP's examination follows concerns about alleged discrepancies between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' reported expenditure and payment records for the evacuation exercise.

The Minority in Parliament had earlier questioned aspects of the GH¢49.7 million expenditure, citing alleged duplicate entries, inadequate supporting documents and payments recorded against some beneficiaries who claim they did not receive the money.

The evacuation exercise, which took place between May 27 and September 4, 2026, brought 1,964 Ghanaians home following xenophobic attacks and threats against foreign nationals in South Africa.

The Ministry reported spending GH¢49,721,786 on the exercise, covering chartered flights, commercial tickets, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration allowances.

The OSP has said its examination seeks to establish whether the funds were properly accounted for and disbursed, identify the actual recipients and determine whether any public officer or private individual improperly benefited.