The Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, has initiated a formal request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated August 17, 2026, to compel the disclosure of detailed funds spent on the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa. This request follows a statement issued by the Ministry on August 13, titled ‘Ghana Fully Funded the Evacuation of Our Nationals from South Africa Following Recent Xenophobic Attacks.’
In a meticulously crafted letter, the MP is seeking comprehensive information regarding the total cost of the evacuation exercise, the sources of funding, private partners involved, and payments made to returning Ghanaians. The request is a direct response to a prior statement by the Ministry acknowledging more than 1,600 Ghanaians were evacuated since May 2026 following recent xenophobic attacks, with the ongoing operation still underway. The Ministry highlights that the evacuation was fully funded by the Government of Ghana and ‘our Ghanaian partners,’ emphasizing that Ghana did not seek financial or material support from the South African government.
Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh argues that the Ministry’s statement lacks sufficient detail, questioning the extent of expenditure, where funds originated, and the roles of private entities. He is demanding a complete breakdown of the total amount spent between May 2026 and August 17, 2026, presented in both Ghanaian cedis and US dollars. Furthermore, he seeks a detailed analysis of expenditure on air charter and commercial tickets, ground transportation, accommodation, consular services, and reintegration payments. The request also covers supporting financial records, including invoices, payment vouchers, receipts, contracts, purchase orders, charter agreements, and expenditure approvals.
Specifically, the MP is requesting copies of warrants, releases, expenditure authorisations, and internal payment approvals related to the evacuation process. A significant portion of the request focuses on the ‘Ghanaian partners’ mentioned by the Ministry, requiring the identification of all individuals, companies, institutions, and other entities contributing to the exercise, along with the corresponding monetary values of their contributions. He is also seeking whether contributions were made in cash or in kind, and where applicable, the public accounts into which the funds were paid. He is requesting copies of agreements, correspondence, donation records, and other documents relating to these contributions.
Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh is also demanding the Ministry to disclose the procurement method used for each service, including whether contracts were awarded through competitive, restricted, single-source, or emergency procurement. He is seeking information on the number of evacuees who received payments, the authorities responsible for approving them, and the financial assistance provided to returnees. The request includes details of the relief items provided to returnees, including quantities, unit costs, and the total expenditure.
The MP highlights the ‘Ghanaian partners’ mentioned by the Ministry, specifically requesting the names of all individuals, companies, institutions, and other entities that contributed to the exercise, along with the amount or value of their respective contributions. He is also asking whether any of the partners received, or are entitled to receive, reimbursement, tax benefits, procurement considerations, acknowledgement of debt, or any other benefit from government in connection with their support. The request also seeks information on the number of evacuees who received the payments and the authorities responsible for approving them. He is seeking a comprehensive schedule of all evacuation flights or rotations undertaken since May 2026, detailing the dates, airlines or service providers, the number of evacuees carried, and the cost of each flight. The Ministry is required to disclose the approved and actual amounts paid for reintegration support and transport fares, the total amount disbursed, and the criteria used to determine eligibility. He is also seeking information on the number of evacuees who received the payments and the authorities responsible for approving them. Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh has requested that the information be provided electronically and has indicated his willingness to pay any prescribed reproduction charges under the RTI Act. He has also asked the Ministry to determine his application and provide written notice of its decision within the statutory period prescribed by Section 23 of Act 989. The request is being made in the public interest, arguing that once government has publicly disclosed that it funded the evacuation, taxpayers should have access to the financial details supporting that claim. He has requested that the information be provided electronically and has indicated his willingness to pay any prescribed reproduction charges under the RTI Act.
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Source: Adom Online
