The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee says it will not participate in a closed-door meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, to discuss the evacuation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa.
The caucus says its decision is due to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ failure to provide an itemised account and supporting records on expenditure incurred during the evacuation and reintegration exercise.
The meeting is expected to be addressed by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is to brief the committee on the evacuation.
In a statement signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minority said it had supported the government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaians whose safety and welfare had been threatened by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“From the outset, the Minority supported Government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaian citizens whose safety and welfare had been threatened by the unfortunate xenophobic attacks in South Africa,” the statement said.
It, however, maintained that support for the evacuation did not exempt the government from accounting for the use of public funds.
“Government must be prepared to account, not only for the total amount spent, but also for how that expenditure was incurred and the basis upon which public funds were applied,” the Minority said.
According to the statement, the caucus submitted a formal request under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), on August 17, 2026, seeking comprehensive information and supporting records on the cost and financing of the evacuation.
The request, referenced MP/BF/RTI/2026/007, was received by the Ministry on August 25, the Minority said.
The caucus said the information sought included details of expenditure incurred, sources of funding, the identities and contributions of private partners, expenditure on flights and other transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration payments.
It also requested relevant procurement and payment records.
The Minority said the Minister announced on September 7 that almost GH¢50 million had been spent on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians.
It said, however, that it had not received the itemised expenditure account and supporting documentation requested under the RTI Act.
“To date, however, the Ministry has not furnished the Minority with the itemized account and supporting documentation requested under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), to enable Parliament and the public to ascertain how these funds were actually expended,” the statement said.
The Minority consequently said it did not consider it appropriate to participate in a closed-door meeting on the same subject while its formal request for the expenditure records remained outstanding.
“In these circumstances, the Minority does not consider it appropriate to participate in a closed-door meeting intended to discuss the same subject matter while its formal request for the underlying expenditure records remains outstanding,” it said.
The caucus said it would therefore not participate in Wednesday’s meeting “unless and until the Ministry provides the itemized account and supporting records requested.”
It further reiterated its call for full disclosure of expenditure relating to the evacuation, saying it would continue to demand transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayers’ funds.