The Minority in Parliament has renewed calls for the government to release comprehensive documents to account for the GH¢49.7 million reportedly spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.
The demand follows a September 7, 2026 briefing by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who disclosed that the government had spent GH¢49.7 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
Addressing the press on Thursday, September 10, Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said the minister’s disclosure must be supported by documentary evidence to enable Parliament and the public to independently verify the expenditure.
He stressed that although the evacuation was an emergency operation, the urgency did not remove the government’s obligation to keep proper procurement and financial records.
“Emergency procurement does not mean procurement without records,” he said, adding that there should be “approval trails, a supplier identity, a contract or a booking record, an invoice, evidence of payment and post-event accountability.”
Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh said the Minority was not accusing the government of breaching procurement laws but was asking for clarity on the procurement methods used for the various flights and services.
“We are therefore not declaring today that any procurement law was breached. We are asking the government to tell the country what procurement method was used for each major flight and service arrangement,” he said.
He also called for an update on the government’s earlier commitment to pursue compensation and accountability for Ghanaians who suffered losses during the attacks.
He asked the government to disclose how many compensation claims had been registered, the value of documented property and business losses, representations made to South African authorities and any investigations or prosecutions known to the government.
“Bringing home people was the first duty. Pursuing justice for what happened to them is also part of the state responsibility,” he said.
The Minority said its latest request was intended as a finite documentary exercise and did not replace earlier Right to Information requests submitted to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Among the records being requested are a detailed evacuation ledger for the 1,964 people brought back to Ghana, with appropriate protection of personal information, as well as a payment ledger covering the reported 5,500 beneficiaries under the reintegration and transport support programme.
The Minority is also demanding a complete flight and batch schedule covering the period from May 27 to September 4, including airline details, flight itineraries, passenger numbers and costs.
It further wants procurement and commercial records relating to chartered and commercial flights, including approvals, contracts or booking confirmations, quotations, invoices, payment vouchers and evidence of settlement.
