Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa releases GH₵49.72m South Africa evacuation records

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has released comprehensive financial records and passenger manifests detailing the expenditure of GH‵49.72 million on the evacuation of Ghanaian citizens from South Africa. This proactive disclosure is intended to address mounting scrutiny and allegations of financial impropriety raised by the Minority caucus in Parliament regarding the scale and cost of the operation. The Minister asserted that this level of transparency is a first for any Foreign Minister in Ghana, providing documented evidence to support the government's accounting of public funds.

In his rebuttal to the Minority's claims, Ablakwa specifically addressed discrepancies regarding the number of evacuees. While the Minority had alleged that only 247 passengers were involved in the operation, the Minister’s records indicate that a total of 1,008 Ghanaians returned home via commercial flights. He noted that the Ministry has provided verifiable documents from the airlines to support these figures, suggesting that the opposition’s findings were based on a misinterpretation of flight data and a lack of proper due diligence. The Minister also clarified the disbursement of allowances provided to the evacuees, emphasizing that all payments are backed by receipts.

Despite the release of these documents, the administration continues to face criticism from figures such as Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah, the former Executive Director of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Speaking on Channel One TV, Ntiamoah characterized the conduct of the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government as inconsistent and unprincipled. He specifically targeted the responses of Minister Ablakwa and Communications Minister Sam George, accusing them of being dismissive and arrogant when faced with public concerns about accountability and the use of taxpayer funds.

Minister Ablakwa has dismissed these criticisms as political sensationalism, urging all stakeholders to verify the facts through the provided data. He maintained that the ministry remains open to dialogue, provided it is grounded in accurate information. The ongoing dispute over the evacuation costs highlights the heightened tension between the government and the opposition regarding transparency and the management of national resources under President John Mahama's administration.