Minister Defies Opposition to Produce Unpaid Evacuee
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has issued a direct challenge to the Minority in Parliament, demanding they identify a single Ghanaian citizen evacuated from South Africa who failed to receive the GH¢5,500 reintegration allowance. In a firm rebuttal of ongoing criticisms regarding the government's handling of the repatriation effort, Mr. Ablakwa dismissed allegations of unaccounted funds as calculated attempts to manufacture a political scandal rather than legitimate inquiries into public expenditure.
The Minister’s intervention comes in response to mounting concerns from opposition lawmakers about the transparency and management of the evacuation operation. While Mr. Ablakwa maintains that all eligible individuals received their entitled support, the Minority has raised questions regarding the whereabouts of certain individuals listed as beneficiaries and whether every kobo of public funds allocated for the exercise was properly accounted for.
Dismissing Allegations of Missing Funds
Addressing the controversy head-on, Mr. Ablakwa characterized the narrative surrounding the evacuation as propaganda designed to obscure the government’s efforts. He specifically targeted claims that some people on the evacuation list could not be traced and that financial analysis suggested discrepancies in the disbursement of funds.
Quoting his own previous statements, the Minister said, “All of that propaganda out there that some people on the list cannot be found and that some voodoo analysis they have done showed that there's some money that has not been accounted for.” He questioned why the evacuation operation had become a subject of such intense scrutiny, insisting unequivocally that there was no scandal to uncover.
Mr. Ablakwa stated that he had been actively looking for an evacuee to publicly testify that they did not receive their allowance. He challenged critics to produce evidence, asking, “I have been looking for one Ghanaian to step forward and say that when we were evacuated from South Africa, the 5,500 Cedi reintegration allowance I didn't get it as a Ghanaian. Or the 500 Cedi transportation allowance, I didn't get it. Have you heard of any one Ghanaian? One.”
Timeline and Purpose of the Briefing
The dispute centers on the government's management of the evacuation and the use of public funds to support returning Ghanaians amidst heightened tensions abroad. The government evacuated Ghanaians from South Africa following heightened anti-immigrant sentiment and attacks targeting foreign nationals, a situation that necessitated a rapid and large-scale repatriation effort.
Mr. Ablakwa clarified the timeline of the operation, stating that the evacuation ended on September 4, 2026, after three days of intensive logistical work. He explained that his subsequent briefing on September 7 was intended to provide a full account of the exercise to the public, ensuring transparency regarding how the government managed the crisis.
Despite the Minister’s insistence on the completeness of the allowances, the controversy persists. The Minority’s concerns remain focused on the administrative details of the evacuation, specifically the verification of individuals listed as beneficiaries and the final reconciliation of expenditure. While Mr. Ablakwa continues to assert that no evacuee was left without support, the opposition maintains that rigorous oversight is necessary to confirm that all funds were utilized correctly.