A governance pressure group, Advocacy for Citizens Ghana (ACG), has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over alleged financial irregularities in the expenditure of more than GH¢49 million on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
The petition calls for a thorough examination of how the funds were managed and disbursed, amid mounting questions about discrepancies in the ministry’s accounting records.
ACG argued that despite assurances by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and his ministry that the money was properly spent, documents reviewed by the Minority in Parliament and Joy News have raised concerns about the accuracy and completeness of the ministry’s financial records.
The ministry reportedly spent the money on several aspects of the operation, including GH¢5,500 in reintegration and transportation allowances for each of the 1,964 evacuees, more than GH¢27 million on chartered flights, hotel accommodation and feeding.
However, the group said the Minority’s probe found that only 824 evacuees out of the 1,964 could be confirmed as having received the GH¢5,500 allowance.
“This raises questions concerning the payment status of the remaining 1,140 evacuees and whether the full amount allocated for the allowances was actually disbursed to the intended beneficiaries”, the petition noted.
Questions have also been raised about the ministry’s reported provision of hotel accommodation for evacuees before their departure from South Africa.
According to the petition, “At a press conference held on 26th October 2026 at the Ghana International Press Centre, some evacuees reportedly stated that they slept in churches, buses and parking lots while awaiting evacuation”.
The group said the accounts appeared inconsistent with the ministry’s claims of providing hotel accommodation and the related expenditure charged to the state.
“These accounts raise questions about the circumstances surrounding the reported expenditure of GH₵141,797.86 on hotel accommodation in South Africa, particularly the number of persons accommodated, the duration of their stay and the actual services provided”, the petition emphasised.
ACG also drew attention to discrepancies in the documentation covering commercial flight tickets and layover expenses.
“The Ministry also reportedly declared an expenditure of GH₵9,420,463.68 on commercial flight tickets and layover expenses for 1,964 persons. However, the supporting documentation reportedly accounts for only 1,173 persons, leaving a discrepancy involving 791 persons requiring explanation and verification”, it said.
The group further questioned the GH¢27,183,700 reportedly spent on chartered flights, arguing that the ministry had not provided sufficient supporting documentation to independently establish the basis for the expenditure.
Beyond the major expenditure items, the petition identified other anomalies in the ministry’s records, including duplicate names, passport numbers and telephone numbers, as well as inconsistencies in signatures.
ACG is consequently asking CHRAJ to investigate the overall management of the evacuation exercise, verify the identities and total number of Ghanaians evacuated, and establish how the funds allocated to the operation were spent.
“The protection of public funds is a constitutional responsibility and a fundamental requirement for good governance. Public resources belong to the people of Ghana and must be managed with the highest standards of transparency, accountability, prudence and integrity”, the petition added.
The controversy follows the government’s voluntary evacuation exercise launched in May 2026 after renewed xenophobic attacks, intimidation and anti-immigrant protests in South Africa targeted African migrants, including Ghanaians.
The operation, which concluded on September 4, 2026, reportedly brought 1,964 Ghanaians home amid reports of deaths, threats to personal safety and destruction of property.
The government subsequently raised diplomatic concerns with South African authorities and the African Union.
The financial arrangements surrounding the exercise have since attracted public attention, particularly after the Minority in Parliament and Joy News examined the ministry’s evacuation records and raised questions about the supporting documentation.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) also joined the calls for accountability, organising a protest march in Accra on November 3, 2026, over the handling of the evacuation funds.
