Parliamentary Minority Demands Ablakwa's Head Over South Africa Evacuation Payment Row

Ghana's parliamentary Minority has escalated pressure on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, demanding his immediate resignation or dismissal by President John Dramani Mahama over allegations that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa did not receive the full GH¢5,500 government support package they were promised.

The Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, made the call at a press conference on Tuesday, October 27, citing what he described as the Minister's mishandling of the evacuation exercise and the erosion of public confidence in his stewardship. The Minority is demanding an independent international audit of the entire evacuation process to uncover the facts behind reported payment shortfalls.

The Allegations and Government Denial

At the heart of the controversy are claims from at least three evacuees who reportedly received GH¢2,000 instead of the full GH¢5,500 package comprising GH¢5,000 in reintegration support and GH¢500 for transport costs. However, Minister Ablakwa has flatly denied these allegations, asserting that every Ghanaian on the evacuation list—including minors—received the complete package as announced. Speaking during an official visit to Ottawa, Canada, Ablakwa stated that his ministry has received no formal complaints about payment discrepancies since the evacuation began over four months ago, and that no issues were raised at the airport regarding missing envelopes or underpayments.

Constitutional and Ethical Grounds for Removal

The Minority's demand is grounded in two key instruments. First, they reference Section 2.1(j) of President Mahama's 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees, which they argue requires a minister to resign when their actions result in significant failure, corruption, or breach of public trust. Second, they invoke Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution, which grants the President authority to terminate ministerial appointments. Jinapor argued that the President must demonstrate that standards set for appointees have real consequences when public confidence is undermined.

Why It Matters for Ghana

This dispute touches on critical issues of transparency, accountability, and public trust in government. The evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa was a high-profile operation following reported xenophobic violence, and the government's commitment to supporting evacuees with a fixed financial package was widely publicised. Any disparity between the announced amount and what beneficiaries actually received raises serious questions about implementation and financial management at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. If payment shortfalls did occur, it would affect vulnerable citizens at a time when they needed support most. Conversely, if the allegations are unfounded, the Minority's call for removal based on unverified claims could set a troubling precedent for ministerial accountability in Ghana. The demand for an independent audit represents a reasonable path forward, as it could settle the factual dispute objectively and restore public confidence—or confirm that the Minister's version is accurate.

The outcome of this standoff will likely test President Mahama's commitment to his own ethical code and how seriously his administration treats allegations of mismanagement in foreign affairs operations.