NPP youth wing seeks audit of $2.5m South Africa evacuation cost

Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) youth wing staged a ‘Yegye Ye Sika’ demonstration in Accra to demand an independent financial audit into the costs associated with evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa. The group alleges a significant discrepancy in the reported US$2.5 million expenditure and has called for the immediate dismissal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The protesters presented a formal petition to the presidency at Jubilee House, insisting on transparency regarding the management of public funds.

National Youth Organiser Fuseini Abanga Yakubu, who led the demonstration, called for the public release of all invoices and documentation related to the exercise. The protesters raised concerns over allegations of financial misconduct and suggested that the actual costs for the 1,964 citizens involved could be significantly higher than official reports. The petition also touched on allegations concerning the potential irregular sale of diplomatic passports, urging a full-scale probe into the operations of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Shamima Muslim confirmed that the petition had been received and forwarded for consideration, though she criticized the conduct of the demonstrators. She noted a pattern of disruptive behavior and disrespect toward presidential staffers, recounting an incident where she was interrupted while attempting to address the group. Despite these concerns, she reiterated that the administration remains open to receiving petitions from opposition groups and other stakeholders.

National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey dismissed the allegations as "scandal-hunting" and a politically motivated attempt to tarnish Minister Ablakwa’s reputation. Mr. Kwetey challenged the NPP to provide concrete evidence of misappropriation regarding the reported GH–16.4 million discrepancy they cited. He argued that the opposition is targeting Ablakwa in retaliation for his previous work in exposing alleged corruption during the former Nana Akufo-Addo administration, suggesting that such tactics will not improve the opposition's political fortunes.