The Minority has demanded full documentary records covering the emergency procurement arrangements used in the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa after the Foreign Affairs Ministry disclosed expenditure of about GH¢49 million.
Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Honourable Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, who is also Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, explained that the urgency surrounding the operation could justify exceptional procurement measures but could not eliminate the need for proper documentation.
Honourable Ayeh stressed that emergency procurement remains subject to accountability requirements, including records identifying suppliers, contracts or booking arrangements, invoices and evidence of payment. He therefore urged the government to disclose the procurement method applied to each major flight and service arrangement.
According to the Bosome Freho MP, the Minority is not declaring that procurement laws were breached. Instead, the group wants the Ministry to provide sufficient records to establish how public funds were committed and whether the expenditure followed the appropriate procedures.
“Urgency may justify exceptional procurement measures. It may justify speed, it may justify emergency or single-source arrangements where the law permits, but emergency procurement does not mean procurement without records.”
Honourable Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh
Furthermore, Honourable Ayeh argued that transparent documentation could strengthen the government’s explanation if the expenditure was properly authorised. He indicated that approval trails, supplier details and settlement records would provide an objective basis for assessing the financial account.
The Minority also requested detailed documentation concerning the chartered and commercial flights used during the exercise. This includes booking confirmations, quotations, invoices, payment vouchers and other records capable of establishing the actual cost of each arrangement.
Additionally, the Deputy Ranking Member called for a specific schedule explaining the GH¢16 million attributed to Engineers and Planners. He urged authorities to identify the invoices, supplies, operational batches or expenditure categories covered by the amount and the route through which the payments were made.
Honourable Ayeh further demanded clarification on contingency funding, including the amount authorised, the amount released and how the expenditure was ultimately reconciled with the government’s reported contribution of GH¢33.72 million.
On the reported operational expenditure of GH¢38.84 million, the Minority wants separate figures for flight tickets, ground operations, feeding, accommodation, medical care and hospitalisation. This, the group believes, would allow each major expenditure line to be independently checked.
Minority Seeks Full Account Of Evacuation, Victim Support
The Minority also demanded a comprehensive reconciliation of the government’s evacuation expenditure and an update on support for Ghanaians affected by attacks and disruptions in South Africa.
Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Honourable Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, argued that the evacuation exercise should not end with the publication of expenditure figures. He stressed that government must also account for the people evacuated and provide clarity on commitments made to victims.
Honourable Ayeh noted that the operation arose from fears over the safety and livelihoods of Ghanaian nationals, some of whom reportedly lost businesses and properties, suffered assaults and experienced the loss of lives. He therefore urged the government to provide an update on compensation and accountability measures involving affected citizens.
The Minority is seeking information on the number of claims registered, the value of documented property and business losses and representations made to South African authorities. It also wants details of investigations or prosecutions known to the government and the current pathway towards compensation or restitution.
“Bringing home people was the first duty; pursuing justice for what happened to them is also part of the state’s responsibility. What we are asking government to produce is not an endless fishing expedition; we are asking for finite documentary accounting.”
Honourable Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh
Turning to the government’s financial disclosures, Honourable Ayeh called for the final unique person evacuation ledger covering the 1,964 evacuees. He indicated that personal information could be appropriately protected while still providing enough information to reconcile the travel records.
Additionally, the Minority wants a separate ledger for the 5,500 beneficiaries linked to payment arrangements, showing successful payments, failures, reversals and reissued payments. The group believes such records should correspond with the relevant travel and beneficiary figures.
The Bosome Freho MP further requested a complete flight and batch schedule covering the period from May 27 to September 4. The document, he explained, should identify the dates, airlines, itineraries, passenger costs and number of passengers associated with each batch.
On the financial figures, the Minority is also demanding a reconciliation of the government’s reported total expenditure of GH¢49.72 million. Honourable Ayeh wants the first-phase manifest reconciled with the final first-phase figure, while individual commercial batches should correspond with their tickets and invoices.
Furthermore, the Minority insists that the GH¢16 million attributed to Engineers and Planners and the government’s GH¢33.72 million share should be matched against identifiable expenditure records. He argued that the figures should be capable of being traced from the allocation stage through payment and final settlement.
Honourable Ayeh therefore called for the original Right to Information request, referenced MP/BF/RTI/2026/006, to remain active alongside the additional documentary demands. He stressed that the Minority supports efforts to protect Ghanaian citizens but wants the government’s account independently supported by records.
READ ALSO: Kow Essuman Gives Ato Forson Friday Deadline Over Unpaid Terminal Benefits
