The Minority in Parliament is seeking a detailed breakdown from the government on the expenditure incurred in bringing Ghanaians back from South Africa following recent attacks against foreigners.
This request was made after a September 7 briefing by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealing that the government spent GH¢49.7 million to return 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Minority says the Minister’s claims must be backed by evidence to allow Parliament and the public to verify how the money was spent.”
The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh, had earlier filed an RTI request for details of the evacuation, including expenditure records and information on individuals and organisations that supported the exercise and their respective contributions.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, September 10, after the Foreign Affairs Minister’s briefing, Asafo Adjei Ayeh said the Minority was not asking for the evacuees’ private information, but documents that would help verify how the government spent the money.
“Nobody is asking government to publish passport, medical diagnosis, bank account numbers or other unnecessary private information. We are asking for enough documentary information to verify the public accounts,” he said.
He added that the Minority supports the government’s decision to help Ghanaians return home and welcomed the Minister’s disclosure, but stressed that the figures presented at the press conference alone were not enough to confirm how the money was spent.
He said the government’s assertion that the exercise had been completed, all outstanding payments settled, 1,964 Ghanaians brought back, and GH¢49,721,786 spent must be supported by the relevant financial and operational documents.
“If the books are closed, then let’s open the books. Let the travel ledger reconcile with the payment ledger. Let the first phrase manifest reconcile with the final first phrase number. Let every commercial batch reconcile with the ticket and invoice,” he stated, adding, “we do not need accusations where documents can provide answers. We do not need speculation where accounts can be established.”
The Minority is also calling on the government to release the full records of the evacuation exercise, saying that making the details public would boost public confidence in the process and ensure transparency in the use of public funds.
