Accra: The Minority in Parliament has called for the release of complete documentary records and supporting evidence to independently verify the public accounts provided by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
According to Ghana Web, Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and MP for Bosome-Freho, emphasized that while the evacuation was an emergency, it did not exempt the government from maintaining accountability. During a press briefing on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Ayeh stated, "Urgency may justify exceptional procurement measures. It may justify speed. It may justify emergency or single-source arrangements where the law permits. But emergency procurement does not mean procurement without records." He insisted that records such as approval trails, supplier identities, contracts, invoices, evidence of payment, and post-event accountability must be available.
Ayeh further demanded transparency regarding the procurement methods used, the suppliers involved, and the payments made during the evacuation process. He highlighted that providing these records would reinforce the minister's position rather than undermine it. Moreover, Ayeh sought an update on the government's earlier commitment to pursue accountability and compensation for affected citizens, questioning the progress of investigations and compensation efforts.
The minister previously disclosed that the government spent a total of GHS49,721,786 to evacuate and reintegrate 1,964 Ghanaian nationals amid xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The evacuation exercise, spanning from May 27 to September 4, 2026, included expenses for chartered and commercial flights, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation, medical care, and repatriation of deceased citizens, with additional funds allocated for reintegration grants.
Of the total cost, the Government of Ghana contributed GHS33.72 million, while the businessman Ibrahim Mahama's company, Engineers and Planners, donated GHS16 million. The evacuation was a response to anti-foreigner violence in South Africa, with Ghana prioritizing vulnerable groups and coordinating efforts through its High Commission in Pretoria.