The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to a Right to Information (RTI) request from the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, by submitting a more than 200-page report on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa amid xenophobic attacks.
A source at Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee told MyJoyOnline that the response was submitted electronically on Friday, September 18, 2026.
The report contains information on more than 1,900 evacuees, including their contact details and signatures.
The evacuation exercise, which ran from May 27 to September 4, 2026, brought 1,964 Ghanaians back home at a total cost of GH¢49,721,786.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed the figures at a press conference on September 7.
Of the total expenditure, GH¢38,835,512 was spent on chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, ground transportation, food, accommodation and medical care.
A further GH¢10,802,000 was allocated to reintegration and transportation allowances, while GH¢84,274 was used to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaian nationals.
The government contributed GH¢33,721,786 towards the operation, while Engineers and Planners provided GH¢16 million.
RTI Request Filed During Evacuation
The disclosure follows an RTI application submitted by Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh while the evacuation exercise was still ongoing.
The Minority requested detailed financial and operational records to enable Parliament and the public to scrutinise the expenditure. The request covered information on flights, procurement processes, payments, private-sector contributions and reintegration assistance.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry had indicated that it would provide a comprehensive account after the evacuation had been completed.
The exercise ended on September 4 with the arrival of the final group of 41 returnees. The Ministry subsequently announced that nearly 2,000 Ghanaians had been evacuated from South Africa.
Minority Seeks Supporting Documents
The Minority has maintained that the GH¢49.7 million expenditure should be supported by relevant financial and operational records.
At a press conference, Minority representatives said they did not oppose the evacuation of Ghanaians facing threats in South Africa but wanted documentary evidence detailing how the funds were spent.
They specifically requested records covering flights, accommodation, food, medical services and reintegration support, alongside invoices, payment vouchers, receipts, contracts and procurement documents.
The Ministry’s response is expected to provide the documentation requested by the MP as part of efforts to enhance transparency and accountability surrounding the evacuation exercise.
Ministry Requests Audit of Evacuations Since 2017
As an additional accountability measure, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has asked the Auditor-General to conduct a special audit of evacuation exercises undertaken by the Ministry from 2017 to date.
Documents reviewed by MyJoyOnline indicate that the request was submitted to the Auditor-General on September 17, 2026.
The proposed audit will go be
