By Our Democracy News GH
October 17, 2026
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has challenged the Minority in Parliament to identify a Ghanaian evacuated from South Africa who did not receive the government’s GH¢5,500 reintegration allowance, insisting that allegations of unaccounted funds are an attempt to create a scandal.
Mr Ablakwa said the government had paid the reintegration allowances to the evacuees and called on critics to provide evidence of any beneficiary who was denied the support.
“I have been looking for one Ghanaian to step forward and say that when we were evacuated from South Africa, the 5,500 Cedi reintegration allowance I didn’t get it as a Ghanaian. Or the 500 Cedi transportation allowance, I didn’t get it. Have you heard of any one Ghanaian? One,” he said.
The minister’s comments follow concerns raised by the Minority over the management of the evacuation programme, including questions about beneficiaries listed for assistance, the disbursement of allowances and whether all public funds allocated to the exercise have been properly accounted for.
The government organised the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa following heightened anti-immigrant sentiment and attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the operation was completed on September 4, 2026, after three days. He said he subsequently briefed the media on September 7 to account for the exercise.
Responding to questions about the programme’s financial management, the minister dismissed claims that some individuals on the beneficiary list could not be traced and that portions of the funds remained unaccounted for.
“All of that propaganda out there that some people on the list cannot be found and that some voodoo analysis they have done showed that there’s some money that has not been accounted for,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa questioned the basis of the allegations and maintained that there was no justification for portraying the evacuation exercise as a financial scandal.
“So what is this desperate attempt to create a scandal when there is none?” he asked.
The disagreement has brought renewed attention to the evacuation programme, particularly the records of beneficiaries, payments made to returning Ghanaians and the accountability of public expenditure.
While Mr Ablakwa maintains that the allowances were paid, the Minority’s concerns centre on questions about the identities and status of some listed beneficiaries and whether all expenditure can be reconciled.
The competing positions leave the government’s payment records and supporting documentation central to resolving the dispute over the handling of the evacuation funds.
