By Ashiadey Dotse
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has insisted that no money is missing from the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa.
“I can state unequivocally without any doubt that not a cedi, not a pesewa is missing,” he told Joy News on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
His comments follow calls by the Minority in Parliament for an independent audit of the evacuation exercise over alleged financial discrepancies.
The Minority has raised concerns about expenditure on reintegration grants, transport allowances and flight records, claiming that more than GH¢16.4 million requires further explanation.
However, Mr Ablakwa has maintained that the money spent on the exercise can be fully accounted for.
The evacuation took place between May 27 and September 4, 2026, following renewed xenophobic attacks and threats against foreign nationals in South Africa.
A total of 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated at a cost of GH¢49,721,786.
The government provided GH¢33,721,786, while businessman Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners contributed GH¢16 million towards the operation.
The Minority’s demand for an independent audit and the minister’s assurance that no funds are missing have become the focus of the dispute over the evacuation expenditure.
