Omanghana
International relations expert Dr. Ishmael Hlovor has defended the GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, arguing that the emergency nature of the operation made higher costs unavoidable.
Following the public disclosure of the expenditure, Dr. Hlovor explained that emergency humanitarian missions cannot benefit from the lower prices associated with advance bookings and routine commercial travel.
He noted that arranging chartered flights, ground transportation, accommodation, medical care and other essential services at short notice often attracts significant premiums.
Although he acknowledged that the total expenditure appeared substantial, Dr. Hlovor urged the public to consider the urgency of the operation and the government’s responsibility to protect Ghanaian citizens facing danger abroad.
He said the evacuation also demonstrated Ghana’s commitment to safeguarding its nationals during international emergencies and sent a strong foreign policy message about the value the country places on its citizens.
Dr. Hlovor maintained that the expenditure would be justified if proper documentation and auditing confirmed that the funds were used for their stated purposes.
“No amount is too huge to be spent on the life of a Ghanaian,” he stated.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed the financial details of the evacuation during a media briefing in Accra.
According to the breakdown, GH¢38,835,512 was spent on chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, local transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation and medical treatment in South Africa.
An additional GH¢10,802,000 was used to provide each evacuee with a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 transportation allowance upon arrival in Ghana.
The government also spent GH¢84,274 to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaian citizens who died during the crisis. The three expenditure categories brought the total cost of the exercise to GH¢49,721,786.
Ablakwa said all financial obligations connected to the evacuation had been fully settled.
Of the total amount, the government contributed GH¢33,721,786, while Engineers and Planners, a private company led by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, donated GH¢16 million to support the operation.
The evacuation took place between May 27 and September 4, 2026, following renewed xenophobic attacks and intimidation by vigilante groups in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, particularly Durban.
The unrest reportedly claimed the lives of four Ghanaians and disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of others, prompting the government to organize their return.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since proposed establishing a Ghanaian Diaspora Consular Fund to finance future emergency interventions involving citizens abroad.
The proposed fund is expected to reduce the immediate pressure such unexpected operations place on the national budget while ensuring that assistance can be mobilized quickly during international crises.
Source: Omanghana
