Businessman Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers and Planners contributed GH¢16 million towards the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
The contribution formed part of the GH¢49.72 million spent by the government and its partners to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaian nationals following a resurgence of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, September 7, Mr Ablakwa said the government itself financed GH¢33.72 million of the total cost, while Engineers and Planners provided the additional GH¢16 million.
The Minister commended Mr Mahama and Engineers and Planners for what he described as an extraordinary commitment to the welfare of Ghanaians.
The evacuation exercise began on May 27 and concluded on September 4, with the final batch of returnees arriving in Ghana.
The funds covered chartered flights, tickets, ground transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation, medical care, hospitalisation, reintegration and transportation allowances, as well as the repatriation of two mortal remains.
Each of the 1,964 evacuees also received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and GH¢500 as a travel and transport allowance.
Mr Ablakwa said the total evacuation bill had been fully settled, with no outstanding liabilities.
He said the government would continue working to link returning Ghanaians to employment, entrepreneurship, skills development and other economic empowerment opportunities.