Omanghana
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over alleged financial irregularities in the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
Led by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the caucus said it would pursue a vote of censure if the minister fails to resign or President John Dramani Mahama declines to dismiss him.
The Minority questioned expenditure on charter flights, financial assistance to evacuees and the overall cost of the exercise. Ablakwa has denied wrongdoing and welcomed an audit.
Deputy Ranking Member Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh challenged a quoted charter flight cost of $750,000 for a Boeing 787-900 travelling from Pretoria to Accra. He argued that comparable charter arrangements should cost between $150,000 and $180,000 and should not exceed $400,000 even with emergency premiums.
Those figures represent the Minority’s assessment and have not been independently established in the information provided.
The caucus also raised concerns about payments to the 1,964 evacuated Ghanaians. It alleged that some beneficiaries received less than the announced GH¢5,500 package, comprising a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant and a GH¢500 transport allowance.
Additionally, the Minority questioned the reported total expenditure of GH¢49.72 million between May 27 and September 4, 2026, alleging that public funds had been misapplied.
It called for an independent forensic audit by an internationally reputable accounting firm to examine the expenditure and establish whether payments were properly accounted for.
The caucus argued that Ablakwa should step aside to allow scrutiny of the exercise without concerns about interference.
Responding to the allegations, Ablakwa rejected suggestions of corruption and accused the opposition of attempting to manufacture a scandal out of an operation he described as internationally commended.
He challenged the Minority to identify an eligible evacuee who had not received the full financial support due and said he supported a comprehensive audit to establish the facts.
The allegations remain disputed, with no findings of wrongdoing established in the information provided.
Source: Omanghana
