Story: News Desk

The Minority in Parliament is demanding comprehensive documentary evidence to support the government’s reported expenditure of GH¢49.7 million on the voluntary evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks. 

The demand follows a disclosure by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on September 7 that 1,964 Ghanaians had been evacuated from South Africa at a total cost of GH¢49,721,786. 

The Minority said the expenditure must be supported by financial and operational records to enable Parliament and the public to independently verify how the funds were spent. 

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, September 10, the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh, said the Minority was not seeking confidential information about the evacuees but documentation necessary to account for the use of public funds. 

“Nobody is asking government to publish passport, medical diagnosis, bank account numbers or other unnecessary private information. We are asking for enough documentary information to verify the public account,” he said. 

Mr Ayeh said the government’s assertion that the evacuation exercise had been completed, all liabilities settled, and 1,964 people evacuated should be supported by the relevant records. 

He specifically called for reconciliation between the passenger records, ticket purchases, invoices and payments associated with the exercise. 

“If the books are closed, then let’s open the books. Let the travel ledger reconcile with the payment ledger. Let the first phase manifest reconcile with the final first phase number. Let every commercial batch reconcile with the ticket and invoice,” he said. 

According to the Minority, such documentation would help establish whether the number of people evacuated corresponds with the expenditure reported by the government and whether payments made to service providers are properly accounted for. 

Mr Ayeh said the Minority’s demand was intended to promote transparency rather than fuel political accusations. 

“We do not need accusations where documents can provide answers. We do not need speculation where accounts can be established,” he said. 

The government has described the evacuation as a voluntary exercise undertaken to assist Ghanaians affected by renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa. 

The Minority, however, insisted that the GH¢49.7 million expenditure should be fully supported by records that can be subjected to parliamentary scrutiny.