The Minority in Parliament is demanding a detailed account of the GH¢16 million contributed by Engineers and Planners towards the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
The Minority wants the government to disclose how the funds were used, including the specific air-ticket batches and invoices they covered, as well as the identity of the recipient of the money.
Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee and MP for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo Adjei-Ayeh, said the request is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of funds for the evacuation exercise.
“For us, government says engineers and planners contributed 16 million towards the evacuation exercise. We are not attacking engineers and planners for supporting Ghanaians in distress. We are not alleging that the contribution perches political favour. We have no documentary basis for such claim.”
He said earlier public information suggested that Engineers and Planners was expected to finance air tickets for returnees under the second phase of the exercise.
“The final account, however, does not identify which tickets, which passenger badges, which airline, which invoice, or which payee account for the 16 million. We therefore make no assumption about how the contribution was ultimately applied.”
Adjei-Ayeh is therefore asking the government to provide a clear financial trail for the contribution.
“We ask government to produce schedule. Which batches and invoices did the 16 million settle? Who received the money? Was the payment made directly to the airlines through an intermediary or reimbursement to government or through several transactions? These are accounting questions and the record should answer them.”
The demand follows Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s disclosure that the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa cost GH¢49.72 million.
The government financed GH¢33.72 million, while Engineers and Planners contributed GH¢16 million.
The evacuation, which began on May 27 and ended on September 4, followed renewed xenophobic attacks and threats against African nationals in South Africa.
The expenditure covered flights, ground transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical care, reintegration support and the repatriation of two mortal remains.
The Minority had earlier filed a Right to Information request seeking detailed records on the overall expenditure, including invoices, payment vouchers, receipts and other supporting financial documents.
