The Minority in Parliament has declined to take part in a scheduled closed-door Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on Ghana’s evacuation of nationals from South Africa until it receives documents detailing how the exercise was financed.
The committee is expected to meet on Wednesday, September 16, with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa scheduled to brief members on the evacuation exercise.
In a statement issued on September 15, the Minority said it had no objection to the decision to evacuate Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks but insisted that the expenditure must be fully accounted for.
The caucus said it formally requested information from the Ministry on August 17 under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
It said the request covered the total expenditure, funding sources, private-sector contributions, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services, reintegration payments and relevant procurement and payment records.
The Minority said the Ministry had not yet provided the requested itemised account.
It referred to the Foreign Affairs Minister’s September 7 announcement that nearly GH¢50 million had been spent on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians.
“To date, however, the Ministry has not furnished the Minority with the itemized 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 Minority consequently said it would not attend the committee’s closed-door meeting unless the requested documents were made available.
“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 itemized account and supporting records requested.”
The caucus said its position was based on what it described as Parliament’s responsibility to scrutinise the use of taxpayers’ funds.
It has also called on the Foreign Affairs Ministry to disclose the full expenditure associated with the evacuation.
The evacuation followed renewed xenophobic attacks and intimidation against African nationals in parts of South Africa. Government said 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated, with four Ghanaian nationals reported to have died amid the violence between April and July 2026.
