Accra:Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has strongly criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament for their analysis regarding the GHS49.7 million expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, dismissing it as 'voodoo analysis'.
According to Ghana Web, Ablakwa questioned the figures presented by the Minority, highlighting inconsistencies in their report concerning the number of evacuees, particularly children, who allegedly received transportation and reintegration allowances. He insisted that the government had provided records to justify the expenditure and demanded that the Minority explain the discrepancies in its report.
Ablakwa pointed out that the Minority's report claimed 442 minors received allowances, despite stating that only 247 Ghanaians returned on commercial flights. He criticized the verification process used by the Minority and refuted allegations of avoiding accountability, stating that the government had made relevant records available.
Explaining the expenditure, Ablakwa noted that the total cost was GHS49.7 million, with the government contributing GHS33.7 million and the remaining GHS16 million being a donation from Engineers and Planners. The funds covered flight tickets, medical treatment, transportation, reintegration allowances, and repatriation costs. He detailed that 1,964 evacuees received allowances totaling approximately GHS10.8 million.
The Minority, led by MP Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, has called for an independent audit, claiming discrepancies between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' records and the number of evacuees. They alleged a GHS16.42 million gap in the expenditure and demanded the audit's findings be made public. Ablakwa acknowledged the importance of an audit and stated the government would consider its findings.