Accra:The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused Ghana's Foreign Affairs Ministry of paying excessively for charter flights used to evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa amid xenophobic violence. They claim that under Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ministry paid US$750,000 per flight, totaling US$2.25 million for three flights accommodating about 900 evacuees.
According to Ghana Web, the NPP argues that the market rate for similar charter services from Ethiopian Airlines or Air Tanzania ranges between US$180,000 and US$300,000 per flight. Based on these estimates, the total cost should not have exceeded US$900,000, pointing to a discrepancy of at least US$1.35 million.
NPP National Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye highlighted during a press conference that the reported expenditure meant approximately US$2,500 was spent per passenger. He questioned the lack of invoices and contracts for the charters, which reportedly make up 55 percent of the GHS 49,721,786 spent on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians.
The party further alleged that Ethiopian Airlines was involved through a middleman, Vanderpuye, and flights were potentially billed at US$300,000 more than actual costs. The NPP has demanded transparency through the publication of original invoices and a naming of the charter operator. They have called for the Ministry to submit all related records to an independent audit and have given the Minister seven days to present these before Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.
Minister Ablakwa insists that all necessary documents and signed sheets are available, affirming that no funds have been misappropriated during the evacuation process.