The Minority in Parliament has renewed its demand for detailed procurement and expenditure records relating to the government’s reported GH¢49.7 million expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
The Minority says it wants the government to provide an itemised account showing how the money was spent during the exercise, which was undertaken after renewed xenophobic attacks and security concerns affecting Ghanaian nationals in South Africa.
According to figures disclosed by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the government spent a total of GH¢49,721,786 on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians.
The demand for further information has been led by the Minority’s Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Damongo MP, Samuel Abu Jinapor.
Mr Jinapor has stressed that while the Minority supported the decision to evacuate Ghanaian citizens facing security concerns, that support should not prevent Parliament and the public from demanding accountability over the use of public funds.
He has therefore called for a comprehensive breakdown of the expenditure, including details of the procurement arrangements and services obtained during the evacuation exercise.
The figures released by the government indicate that GH¢38.84 million was spent on chartered flights, air tickets, ground transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation, medical services and hospitalisation in South Africa.
A further portion of the expenditure reportedly covered reintegration and transportation allowances for the evacuees. Each returning Ghanaian received a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant, alongside GH¢500 for transportation, according to the reported breakdown.
The Minority has questioned the overall cost and wants documentation that will enable lawmakers to determine how the final figure was arrived at and whether value for money was obtained.
Mr Jinapor has indicated that the Minority has already taken steps under the Right to Information Act to obtain the details and has also filed questions in Parliament seeking further information.
He maintained that an itemised bill would help Parliament and the wider public understand the various components of the expenditure and provide greater clarity about the use of public resources.
The evacuation was initially expected to involve about 300 Ghanaians but was eventually expanded to 1,964 people. The exercise reportedly began on May 27 and was completed on September 4, 2026.
The government has defended the evacuation as a necessary response to security concerns and xenophobic attacks affecting Ghanaian nationals in South Africa. Officials have also indicated that the full cost of the exercise has been settled.
The Minority’s demand, however, is focused on transparency rather than an allegation that the funds were misused. The lawmakers want access to the underlying procurement and expenditure records so they can scrutinise the figures and determine how the money was allocated.
The issue has subsequently generated political debate, with NDC member Anthony Nukpenu urging the NPP Minority to allow the Auditor-General to examine the transactions before drawing conclusions. He argued that the audit process should establish whether the expenditure and procurement arrangements complied with the relevant rules.
As the debate continues, the release of a detailed expenditure breakdown is expected to provide Parliament and the public with a clearer picture of how the GH¢49.7 million evacuation cost was incurred.
Source: Thepressradio.com
