Minority demands full breakdown of GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation costs

Ghana's opposition Minority in Parliament has escalated calls for transparent accounting of the GH¢49.7 million spent evacuating and reintegrating Ghanaians from South Africa, challenging the government to justify the substantial per-person expenditure.

Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and MP for Damongo, has demanded a detailed itemised bill from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather than the lump-sum figures already disclosed. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the government spent approximately GH¢49.7 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians, with GH¢38.8 million allocated to chartered flights, air tickets, transport, food, accommodation and medical services in South Africa.

The arithmetic raises questions: dividing the total expenditure by the number of evacuees yields roughly GH¢25,000 per person—a figure Jinapor argues demands public scrutiny and justification. "Transparency and value for money are absolutely critical, particularly given the amount reportedly spent," he stated, emphasising that parliamentary oversight should not be compromised regardless of initial bipartisan support for the evacuation itself.

Accountability without abandoning support

Crucially, Jinapor clarified that the Minority's push for transparency does not represent opposition to the evacuation decision. Rather, he framed it as a necessary counterbalance: the government's responsibility to protect Ghanaians abroad must be matched by accountability in spending public funds. "From the onset, we affirmed our support for the government in its decision to evacuate citizens in South Africa," he said, noting that support for the policy should never become a waiver of accountability standards.

The Minority has already taken formal action. More than a month ago, they invoked Ghana's Right to Information Act requesting detailed expenditure records, including an itemised bill. Parliamentary questions have also been filed. Jinapor characterised the current call as part of sustained efforts to ensure proper governance, not a fresh demand.

Why it matters for Ghana

This dispute touches on fundamental principles of democratic accountability and public resource management. Ghana's evacuation of nationals from South Africa followed serious security concerns, including xenophobic violence targeting foreign residents. The operation itself was broadly viewed as necessary and justified—a legitimate government function protecting citizens abroad.

However, the scale of expenditure invites legitimate questions. At GH¢25,000 per evacuee for flights, logistics and accommodation across the entire operation, costs warrant scrutiny. Citizens and lawmakers need confidence that emergency spending, however justified, reflects prudent financial stewardship. The call for an itemised bill is therefore not merely partisan grandstanding but a standard accountability mechanism.

For Ghanaians, this episode highlights an ongoing tension: trusting government competence in crisis response whilst demanding transparency in how tax revenues are deployed. It also sets a precedent for future evacuations or emergency expenditures. Clear, detailed accounting now establishes expectations for rigorous financial management in similar circumstances ahead, protecting both government credibility and public trust in institutions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet responded to the Minority's renewed calls for itemised disclosure. The ball now rests with government to either provide the detailed breakdown or risk further erosion of confidence in the evacuation process itself.