The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee says it will boycott a closed-door meeting on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa unless the government provides a detailed account of the GH¢50 million reportedly spent on the exercise.
The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, is expected to give Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa an opportunity to brief the committee on the evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians.
However, the Minority says it will not participate until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides documents detailing how the funds were spent.
In a statement signed by Damongo MP and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Minority said it supported the government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaians whose safety was threatened by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“From the outset, the Minority supported Government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaian citizens whose safety and welfare had been threatened by the unfortunate xenophobic attacks in South Africa,” the statement said.
It added that its support for the evacuation did not absolve the government of its responsibility to account for public funds used in the exercise.
“That support, however, cannot dispense with the equally important obligation of Government to account fully and transparently for the expenditure of public funds,” it said.
The Minority said it submitted a request under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), on August 17, seeking detailed information on the cost and financing of the evacuation. The Ministry received the request on August 25.
According to the Caucus, the request sought expenditure details and supporting documents covering flights, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services, reintegration payments and procurement. It also requested information on the sources of funding and the identities and contributions of private partners involved in the exercise.
The Minority said Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced on September 7 that the government had spent almost GH¢50 million on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians.
It, however, said the Ministry had yet to provide the itemised expenditure and supporting documents needed to verify the spending.
“To date, however, the Ministry has not furnished the Minority with the itemised account and supporting documentation requested under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), to enable Parliament and the public to ascertain how these funds were actually expended,” the statement said.
The Caucus said it therefore considered it inappropriate to attend a closed-door meeting on the matter while its formal request for information remained outstanding.
“Accordingly, the Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament will not participate in the closed-door meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 16th September 2026, unless and until the Ministry provides the itemised account and supporting records requested,” it said.
The Minority has consequently renewed its demand for full disclosure of the expenditure associated with the evacuation exercise.
“We therefore reiterate our call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make full disclosure of the expenditure relating to the evacuation exercise,” it said.
The Caucus added that it would continue to press for transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayers’ funds, describing the demand as part of its constitutional and parliamentary responsibility.
