The Majority Caucus of Parliament’s Select Committee on Foreign Affairs has defended the GH¢49.72 million spent on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa, insisting that the expenditure is supported by comprehensive documentation and should be subjected to an independent audit.
The caucus said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had submitted detailed records covering the evacuees, financial transactions and logistical arrangements for the exercise, dismissing allegations by the Minority Caucus that substantial sums of public funds remained unaccounted for.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, said the committee had received a comprehensive report from the ministry on September 18, 2026.
According to him, the report contained a detailed register of all 1,964 evacuees, including their names, dates of birth, passport numbers, professions, contact details, allowances received and signatures. He added that the necessary information and attestations for minors were also provided by their parents or legal guardians.
“Not a single name is missing or unaccounted for,” Mr Vanderpuije said, maintaining that the documentation provided a clear record of the people evacuated.
Majority defends GH¢49.7m in expenditure
Mr Vanderpuije said the ministry had also provided receipts and supporting documents covering chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, transportation, feeding, accommodation and other logistical arrangements made by Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa.
The documentation, he noted, also included records relating to the GH¢16 million donation from Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, as well as correspondence and letters of appreciation acknowledging the contribution.
Based on its examination of the ministry’s submission, the Majority Caucus described the account of the evacuation exercise as comprehensive and credible.
Mr Vanderpuije, who said he had served on the Foreign Affairs Committee for more than a decade, argued that the level of documentation presented was exceptional compared with previous evacuation exercises.
He commended Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and his ministry for what he described as their commitment to transparency, professionalism and accountability in the management of public resources.
The caucus also praised President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership in securing the safe evacuation of the Ghanaian nationals, describing the exercise as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to protecting citizens abroad.
GH¢5,500 allowances and evacuee records
The Majority Caucus further stated that, as of the time of the press conference, no evacuated Ghanaian had come forward to claim that they did not receive the GH¢5,500 integration and transportation allowances.
It maintained that the total expenditure of GH¢49,721,786 represented an accurate reflection of the evacuation exercise and described the spending as prudent.
The statement, however, comes amid allegations raised by the Minority Caucus at a press conference on October 11, 2026, concerning the management of funds allocated to the operation.
The Majority rejected those allegations, arguing that the financial records submitted to Parliament provided sufficient information for scrutiny.
Majority accuses Minority of politicising evacuation
Mr Vanderpuije criticised members of the Minority Caucus for allegedly boycotting an engagement at which the Foreign Affairs Minister sought to brief the committee on the evacuation exercise.
He said the minister had voluntarily requested to brief the committee after the operation but that Minority members had declined to participate.
The Majority argued that raising allegations publicly after declining the opportunity for direct parliamentary engagement raised questions about the Minority’s commitment to accountability.
It accused the Minority of attempting to undermine the reputation of Mr Ablakwa and the Foreign Affairs Ministry through what it described as politically motivated claims.
The caucus urged the minister to remain focused on his responsibilities and not allow the allegations to distract him from his work.
Auditor-General invited to audit evacuation exercises
In a significant development, Mr Vanderpuije confirmed that he had received a copy of a letter dated September 17, 2026, referenced CC/1 and addressed to the Auditor-General, inviting an independent and comprehensive audit of evacuation exercises undertaken from 2017 onwards.
The proposed audit is expected to cover the 2020 COVID-19 evacuation, the 2022 Ukraine evacuation, the 2023 Sudan evacuation and the 2026 South Africa evacuation, alongside any other exercise the Auditor-General considers relevant.
The Majority Caucus said the invitation demonstrated the ministry’s willingness to submit its expenditure to independent scrutiny.
It called for accountability to be applied consistently across successive administrations, rather than being used selectively for political purposes.
COVID-19 evacuation costs also raised
The Majority Caucus also drew attention to the GH¢44,460,530 reportedly spent on quarantine arrangements during the 2020 COVID-19 evacuation exercise under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
Mr Vanderpuije questioned the value for money associated with that expenditure, particularly in light of the arrangements under which travellers were required to pay for quarantine.
He said the proposed independent audit should establish the facts surrounding evacuation-related spending under both the previous and current administrations.
The caucus maintained that a comprehensive review would provide an opportunity to assess the use of public funds fairly and objectively, rather than relying on partisan allegations.
Zuwera to present further details
Concluding his remarks, Mr Vanderpuije reiterated the Majority Caucus’s confidence in the documentation submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its support for independent scrutiny of evacuation-related expenditure.
He subsequently invited the Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Ibrahimah Mohammed Zuwera, to provide a more detailed explanation of the caucus’s observations and responses to the allegations raised by the Minority.
The controversy over the South Africa evacuation has placed renewed attention on public expenditure, parliamentary oversight and the protection of Ghanaians caught in difficult circumstances abroad.
While the Majority Caucus maintains that the ministry has adequately accounted for the GH¢49.72 million expenditure, the proposed audit by the Auditor-General is expected to provide an independent assessment of the records and the management of evacuation funds across successive administrations.
