Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has challenged anyone to produce a single Ghanaian evacuated from South Africa who did not receive the GH¢5,000 repatriation allowance and GH¢500 transportation allowance. He stated on TV3 Key Points October 10, 2026: “I have been looking for one Ghanaian to step forward and say that when we were evacuated from South Africa, I didn’t get the 5,000 cedis repatriation allowance as a Ghanaian. Or the 500 cedis transportation allowance, I didn’t get it. Have you heard any Ghanaian [say that]?”
The Minister said government spent GH¢49.72 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians after xenophobic attacks, with 926 on chartered flights and 1,038 on commercial tickets. He stressed Ghana was first to evacuate its citizens and that 6,300 Ghanaians have been rescued from global distress situations including Libya, Myanmar and Cambodia since 2024.
Ablakwa was responding to Minority allegations that GH¢13.4 million to GH¢16.4 million cannot be traced from RTI documents. Deputy Ranking Member Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh (Bosome-Freho) claims only 824 names match on both payment registers out of 1,964 for allowances, and only 247 commercial flight passengers out of 1,038 claimed. The Minority is demanding a forensic audit. Ablakwa described the evacuation as humanitarian, guided by the principle “when you touch one Ghanaian, you touch all of us” and said some returnees expressing regret reflects Ghana’s democracy.
He added that government remains ready to evacuate more Ghanaians if anti-immigrant violence worsens in South Africa, following the Constitutional Court ruling on asylum seekers. The African Union is set to discuss the matter at its January 2027 summit after Ghana’s petition.
💬 Howedey Insight: This evacuation allowance accountability debate is trending on Howedey.com as Ghanaians follow the South Africa repatriation audit.
Ablakwa said the evacuation remains a source of national pride and that the Consular and Humanitarian Bureau continues monitoring developments in Johannesburg, Durban and other hotspots. He urged Ghanaians to volunteer credible information and avoid politicizing humanitarian operations aimed at saving lives.
📲 Call or WhatsApp +233 20 2190 250 and share your story
Author: Stella Sunu • Published on Howedey.com
Author: Stella Sunu • Published on Howedey.com
Scan QR to read more on howedey.com
