The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to produce what it describes as missing documentation of the GH¢49.72 million spent on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
The party mounted fresh pressure on the Minister, demanding a complete account, pointing to what it says are discrepancies in flight costs, payment records and financial documentation.
According to the NPP, it will pursue parliamentary, administrative and legal avenues if Mr. Ablakwa fails to meet its demands.
At a press conference, the NPP’s National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, accused the Foreign Affairs Minister of substituting public explanations and media presentations for the documentary evidence required to establish how the money was spent.
“Ghana did not ask the Minister for an explanation. Ghana asked for an account,” Mr. Aboagye declared. And until the account is produced, this matter is not closed,” he warned.
Mr Aboagye identified the GH¢27.18 million reportedly spent on chartered flights as one of the most significant concerns, alleging that the party had not received invoices, contracts or the name of the operator to substantiate the expenditure.
“Emergency explains the urgency. It does not excuse the missing receipts,” he said.
The NPP further alleged that the three charter flights cost approximately US$750,000 each, questioning whether the amounts represented value for money.
The party called on Mr Ablakwa to publish the original Ethiopian Airlines invoices and disclose how the charter operator was selected.
The opposition also challenged the minister’s assertion that all 1,964 evacuees received the two allowances.
According to Mr Aboagye, the payment sheets cited by the party contained approximately 1,001 signatures for the GH¢500 transportation allowance and 1,508 records for the GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance.
He claimed that only 824 names appeared on both lists, leaving questions about payments declared for the remaining evacuees.
The NPP calculated the disputed amount at GH¢6.27 million, arguing that the ministry must provide proof of payment against every beneficiary.
The party also questioned why the ministry’s reported GH¢10.802 million expenditure on allowances corresponds exactly to multiplying 1,964 evacuees by GH¢5,500.
“A genuine account totals what was actually paid. This one multiplies a headcount by a rate and calls it expenditure,” Mr Aboagye alleged.
The NPP further demanded clarification over the GH¢16 million contribution from Engineers and Planners, alleging that documents from the ministry described the support differently.
Mr Aboagye said a letter from the minister reportedly described the contribution as a “cash donation”, while the ministry’s response to a Right to Information request indicated that the company directly purchased tickets and provided reintegration support.
The party wants the ministry to disclose whether the money was received in cash or provided through direct purchases, identify any account into which the funds were paid, and explain how the entire amount was applied.
It also cited an alleged discrepancy between an ASKY airline invoice and receipt, as well as differences between two versions of a letter inviting the Auditor-General to examine the records.
The NPP said these issues raise questions requiring documentary clarification rather than political exchanges.
Beyond the seven-day deadline, the NPP is demanding the complete evacuation records, all charter flight invoices and contracts, payment vouchers, signed beneficiary sheets and the full list of evacuees with proof of payment against each name.
It has also called for an independent audit by a firm of international standing, with the terms of reference and findings made public.
Mr Aboagye said the party would support further parliamentary questions, petition the Auditor-General and pursue remedies available under the Right to Information Act if the minister fails to comply.
Mr Aboagye recalled Ablakwa’s record of demanding financial transparency from previous administrations, stressing, “Accountability does not change sides when its champion changes seats,” he said.
According to him, the Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa should not become a headline figure behind which public money cannot be traced.
The controversy concerns the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians who fled xenophobic violence in South Africa. According to Mr Ablakwa, the exercise cost GH¢49,721,786, comprising GH¢33.72 million from the government and GH¢16 million contributed by Engineers and Planners.
The minister has maintained that the expenditure covered flights, accommodation, transportation, feeding, medical care and allowances for the evacuees. He has also released names, signatures and payment records, insisting that all 1,964 evacuees received GH¢5,000 in reintegration allowances and GH¢500 for transportation.
However, the NPP argues that the documents presented so far do not adequately reconcile the total expenditure with the payments it says can be verified.
