Minority boycotts Foreign Affairs meeting on South Africa evacuation

The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has declined to participate in a closed-door meeting on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, demanding full disclosure of the expenditure incurred on the exercise.

The Minority has said it will only participate in the meeting after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides an itemised account and supporting records detailing how funds allocated to the evacuation and reintegration exercise were spent.The Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expected to brief members on the evacuation.

In a statement signed by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minority said it had formally requested detailed information on the exercise under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), but had not received the requested records.

The Minority said the request, submitted on August 17 and received by the Ministry on August 25, sought details of expenditure, sources of funding, contributions from private partners, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration payments.

It said the Minister subsequently announced on September 7 that almost GH¢50 million had been spent on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians.The Minority has maintained that without the supporting financial records, it cannot properly participate in a meeting on the same subject behind closed doors.

“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.

“Accordingly, the Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament will not participate in the closed-door meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 16th September 2026, unless and until the Ministry provides the itemized account and supporting records requested,” the caucus wrote.

It has therefore reiterated its call for the Ministry to disclose the full expenditure and supporting documentation, stressing that the government has a duty to account for the use of taxpayers’ funds.

Credit:Citinews