Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has challenged the Minority in Parliament to identify a Ghanaian evacuated from South Africa who did not receive the GH¢5,500 allowance, dismissing allegations of unaccounted funds as attempts to create a scandal.
The government evacuated Ghanaians from South Africa following heightened anti-immigrant sentiment and attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country.
The operation ended on September 4, 2026, after three days, according to Mr Ablakwa. He said his September 7 briefing was intended to provide an account of the exercise to the public.
Mr Ablakwa said the evacuation exercise ended on September 4, 2026, and that he briefed the press three days later to account for the operation.
He questioned claims that some people on the evacuation list could not be traced and that the funds allocated for the exercise had not been fully accounted for.
“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 said.
The Minister said he had been looking for an evacuee who could publicly state that they did not receive the allowance.
“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,” he said.
He questioned why the evacuation had become controversial, insisting there was no scandal to uncover.
“So what is this desperate attempt to create a scandal when there is none? When the whole world is commending that all of that propaganda…” he said.
His remarks came in response to concerns over the handling of the evacuation, including questions about individuals listed as beneficiaries and the disbursement of funds.
The dispute centres on the government’s management of the evacuation and the use of public funds to support returning Ghanaians.
While Mr Ablakwa maintains that the allowances were paid, the Minority’s concerns include the whereabouts of some individuals on the evacuation list and whether all expenditure has been properly accounted for.