The Minority in Parliament has said the GH¢5,000 reintegration support provided to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa is inadequate.
According to the minority, the GH¢5,000 reintegration support is inadequate to help Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa to resettle and rebuild their livelihoods in Ghana.
The Minority noted that evacuees who lost businesses and sources of income will struggle to restart their lives with GH¢5,000.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, September 10, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh, stated, “If somebody owned a restaurant, a boutique, a barbershop in South Africa and because of the xenophobic attacks he’s brought back home, you think GH¢5,000 reintegration is reintegration?”
The minority further disclosed that the GH¢20 million support offered by MTN Ghana could have provided additional assistance to the affected Ghanaians if the government had accepted the offer.
Also, the minority have renewed their demand for the government to provide comprehensive documentary evidence on the expenditure incurred during the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
Asafo Adjei Ayeh disclosed that the Minority was not demanding private information about the evacuees but rather documents to establish the accuracy of the government’s financial account.
He further disclosed that the Minority supports the government’s decision to assist Ghanaians who wished to return home and acknowledged the Minister’s disclosure.
However, the minority argued that the figures announced at a press conference could not, on their own, constitute sufficient verification.
Addressing the press on Thursday, September 10, following the Foreign Affairs Minister’s briefing, Asafo Adjei Ayeh stated, “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 account”.
“If the books are closed, then let’s open the books. Let the travel ledger reconcile with the payment ledger. Let the first phase manifest reconcile with the final first phase number. Let every commercial batch reconcile with the ticket and invoice,” he said, adding, “We do not need accusations where documents can provide answers. We do not need speculation where accounts can be established,” he added.
The development follows Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister, announcing a detailed breakdown of the cost involved in the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
Ablakwa disclosed that the total cost of the evacuation exercise amounted to GHS 49,721,786.00, covering chartered flights, ground transportation, feeding, accommodation, medical care, and reintegration support.
The Foreign Affairs Minister disclosed that GH¢38.84 million was spent on chartered flights, tickets, ground transportation, feeding, hotel accommodation in South Africa, as well as medical and hospitalisation requirements.
He added that another GH¢10.8 million was allocated as reintegration and transportation allowances for the returning nationals.
Ablakwa disclosed that each of the 1,964 evacuees received GH¢5,000 as a reintegration grant and GH¢500 for transportation, bringing the total support per person to GH¢5,500.
Also, GH¢84,274 was spent to repatriate the remains of two Ghanaians who lost their lives during the crisis.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that the total amount has been fully settled, with no outstanding liabilities arising from the evacuation, adding that out of the GH¢49.72 million spent, the government financed GH¢33.72 million, while Ibrahim Mahama contributed GH¢16 million towards the exercise.
Watch the video below:
Cost of Evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa: We are seeking an operational breakdown rather than presenting the figures as one combined amount – Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.#TV3GH pic.twitter.com/Vc5nEEIv0s
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 10, 2026
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