The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has given Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa seven days to release documents detailing expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, warning of further action if its demands are not met.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, October 18, 2026, the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, said the NPP wants the government to provide charter flight invoices and contracts, payment vouchers, signed payment records and a complete list of the 1,964 evacuees, with proof of payment for each person.
“Produce the complete set of documents within 7 days. Lay before the RTI requisition and Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee every charter invoice and contract, every payment voucher, every signed sheet, and the full list of 1,964 evacuees with proof of payment against each name,” he said.
The party is also demanding details of how the charter operator was selected under the Public Procurement Act and an explanation of the reported GH¢16 million expenditure, including whether the amount was paid in cash or used for purchases.
Mr Aboagye said the NPP also wants the Minister to clarify discrepancies in figures relating to ASKY Airlines and different versions of a letter identified as CC/7. It is seeking clarification on which version of the letter was submitted to the Auditor-General.
The party is further calling for an independent audit by an internationally recognised firm, with the terms of reference and findings made public.
Although it welcomed the Auditor-General’s review of the expenditure, the NPP argued that the review should not be the sole accountability measure.
The party warned that failure to meet its demands would prompt it to support the Minority in Parliament in pursuing the matter, including through urgent questions to the Minister.
It also intends to formally petition the Auditor-General to prioritise the evacuation expenditure in the special audit and pursue further remedies under the Right to Information Act.
The NPP questioned Mr Ablakwa’s commitment to accountability, arguing that he had previously demanded detailed explanations of public expenditure from successive governments while in opposition.
It maintained that the same standards of transparency should apply to the current administration.
“The 1,964 Ghanaians who fled South Africa suffered enough. They should not now become a headline figure behind which public money cannot be traced,” the party said.
The NPP said the release of the requested documents and explanations was necessary to establish how public funds were spent and restore public confidence in the evacuation arrangements.
The demands follow concerns raised by the party over the reported cost of the chartered flights and the documentation supporting the evacuation expenditure.
