Omanghana
Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has denied allegations that funds were misappropriated during the GH¢49.72 million evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, insisting that the financing and payments to returnees have been accounted for.
His response follows calls by Parliament’s Minority caucus for an independent audit over claims that expenditure records left more than GH¢16.4 million unexplained. Separate media reports alleged that some evacuees received only GH¢2,000 instead of their full support packages.
Explaining the funding arrangements on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Ablakwa said the government provided GH¢33.72 million, while Engineers and Planners contributed GH¢16 million. The two contributions brought the total funding to GH¢49.72 million.
He attributed the alleged discrepancy to a misunderstanding of the financing structure, arguing that the private contribution had not been properly reflected in the Minority’s calculations.
Addressing concerns about payments, the minister said each of the 1,964 evacuees, including minors, was entitled to GH¢5,500. This comprised a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 transport allowance.
During an engagement with the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, Canada, Ablakwa also disputed claims that returnees had been underpaid. He invited anyone who had received less than the approved amount to come forward so the matter could be examined.
According to him, the ministry had received no formal complaint about underpayment in the four months since the evacuation exercises began.
The ministry has released evacuees’ names, signatures and payment records as part of its response to the allegations.
Ablakwa further said he had invited the Auditor-General to examine all state evacuation exercises undertaken since 2017, extending the proposed scrutiny beyond the South Africa operation.
The minister maintains that no funds are missing, while the Minority’s demand for an independent audit centres on establishing whether the expenditure records fully account for the evacuation costs.
Source: Omanghana
