The Minority in Parliament has criticised the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over what it describes as excessive publicity surrounding the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, urging the government to concentrate on providing relief to citizens who remain stranded.
The comments were made by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, following the arrival of the first group of 297 evacuees from South Africa at the Accra International Airport. Government officials have indicated that another batch of evacuees is expected to return in the coming days.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts to repatriate affected citizens, Mr Jinapor argued that greater attention should be paid to resolving the difficulties facing those who are still in South Africa.
“The Minister for Foreign Affairs should focus on delivering, should focus on substantive work and pay less attention to public relations,” he said.
“PR is all well and good. Branding is all well and good. Communication and social media and all the ceremonies of welcoming people and singing are all fine. But at the end of the day, what people are looking out for, both our compatriots here in Ghana and those in South Africa, is that we get the job done.”
Mr Jinapor noted that Ghana has a long history of evacuating its citizens from crisis zones, citing operations during the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as evacuations undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.
According to him, previous governments successfully conducted large-scale evacuation exercises without what he described as excessive publicity.
“During COVID-19, we evacuated almost 9,000 people, not 300 people. The number the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is jubilating about is 300 people. It is commendable that the ministry has been able to repatriate some Ghanaians, but as we speak, almost 1,500 Ghanaians are registered in South Africa and are desperate to return home,” he stated.
The Damongo MP also raised concerns over reports that the registration of Ghanaians seeking evacuation from South Africa has been suspended. He questioned the reasons for the suspension and called on the ministry to provide clarity on the logistical challenges involved, as well as the support being offered to affected citizens awaiting evacuation.
“We have been told that the registration of Ghanaians in South Africa has been suspended. There are legitimate questions that have to be asked. Why has it been suspended? When will it resume? What logistical constraints have occasioned the suspension? What measures are being put in place to assist them while they remain in South Africa?” he asked.
Mr Jinapor maintained that while the successful return of the first group of evacuees deserved recognition, the government’s primary focus should be on ensuring that all stranded Ghanaians receive the assistance they need.
“We should downplay the PR and the ceremonies a bit and focus on the substantive work and bring relief to Ghanaians in South Africa,” he added.
The evacuation exercise forms part of efforts by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist nationals affected by the worsening security situation in South Africa. Government officials have indicated that repatriation efforts will continue as more affected citizens seek to return home.
