The Minority in Parliament has called for Foreign Affairs Minister, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to “resign over his handling of Ghana’s evacuation of citizens from South Africa” citing concerns about the exercise’s accountability and the management of public funds.
Speaking at a press conference, the Member of Parliament for Damongo and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Honourable Samuel Abdulai Jinapor outlined a series of demands.
“His handling of this exercise has brought his high office into disrepute. He must step down in accordance with section 2.1(j) of President Mahama’s 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees, which requires resignation where a minister’s actions or leadership result in significant failure, corruption, or a breach of the public trust.”
Honourable Samuel Abdulai Jinapor
Honourable Jinapor stressed that the allegations surrounding the evacuation require an impartial investigation and a clear demonstration of accountability from the government.
Invoking Article 81(a) of the Constitution, he urged President John Dramani Mahama to terminate the minister’s appointment if he refuses to step down, insisting that standards governing political appointees must carry consequences when public confidence is undermined.
The Damongo MP emphasised that the proposed independent audit should be conducted by an accounting firm with a proven record and unquestionable integrity. In the Minority’s view, an external examination would help establish the facts surrounding the evacuation and address questions arising from the handling of public expenditure.
The Minority has also indicated that it could pursue “a parliamentary vote of censure” against Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa if he remains in office. Honourable Jinapor referenced Article 82 of the Constitution and Order 138 of Parliament’s Standing Orders as the provisions under which such a process could be initiated.
The proposed steps, he explained, reflect the Minority’s position that the matter should not end with public explanations from the ministry. Instead, the group wants an independent examination of the evacuation and accountability for any irregularities established through the process.
The press conference also brought forward concerns about the documentation used to account for evacuees and the costs associated with the operation.
Bosome Freho MP Challenges Records Of Evacuation Exercise
Fresh questions about the documentation and expenditure involved in Ghana’s evacuation of citizens from South Africa have emerged, with the Minority’s Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Honourable Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, alleging discrepancies in records provided by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The Bosome Freho MP rejected a newer set of documents circulated for further verification, alleging that they contained newly introduced names, signatures and handwriting inconsistencies.
“And we are saying that the 16.4 million is still unaccounted for, and we expect the minister to account for the16.4 million. Our minister has not demonstrated credibility and his actions are dishonest.”
Honourable Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh
Honourable Ayeh explained that the minister previously announced that a 200-page document detailing the evacuation was made available. However, the Minority’s examination of the material allegedly uncovered discrepancies in the number of evacuees, unsigned entries and duplicate names appearing in different batches.
According to the Deputy Ranking Member, a subsequent set of approximately 300 pages was provided to an independent media organisation for further verification. He disputed the legitimacy of the new material, alleging that it has been manufactured within the ministry. These claims have not been independently established in the information provided.
The Bosome Freho MP further argued that the alleged discrepancies made it difficult to verify the full list of beneficiaries, describing some individuals whose identities could not be established as “ghosts”.
Turning to the records used during Ghana’s COVID-19 evacuation exercise, Honourable Ayeh presented them as an example of the detailed documentation he believes should accompany such operations. He pointed to information including evacuees’ photographs, accommodation details, hotel receipts and residential addresses, arguing that these records enabled individuals and expenditure to be traced.
In addition, he raised questions about the cost of the chartered flight from South Africa to Ghana. He estimated that a six-hour flight using a Boeing 787-900 could cost between US$150,000 and US$180,000, while allowing for an emergency and additional charges. He proposed a figure of US$400,000 for comparison.
Honourable Ayeh contrasted those estimates with the US$750,000 figure he attributed to the minister. He also challenged the minister’s criticism of the Minority’s calculations, arguing that similar methods have been used to assess previous flight costs.
The Deputy Ranking Member called on Honourable Samuel Ablakwa to step aside to allow an independent investigation, alleging that his presence in office could impede efforts to establish the facts.
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