Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has challenged claims that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received less than their approved allowances, insisting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received a single complaint about payment shortfalls in more than four months.

The minister maintained that all 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa, including minors, received the full GH¢5,500 support package announced by the government.

The package consisted of GH¢5,000 in reintegration support and GH¢500 for transportation.

His response comes amid growing public scrutiny of the evacuation exercise and questions about whether every beneficiary received the full amount.

Despite the criticism directed at him, Ablakwa has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the welfare, dignity and rights of Ghanaians, saying the controversy will not discourage him from performing his duties.

Ablakwa Insists All Evacuees Received GH¢5,500

Speaking during an official visit to Canada, Ablakwa questioned reports that some returnees received less than the amount announced by the government.

According to the minister, all beneficiaries were informed before leaving South Africa that they would receive GH¢5,500 each. He said the information was repeated when they arrived in Ghana.

He explained that the payments were distributed in two envelopes at the airport and that beneficiaries were encouraged to open the envelopes and verify the amounts they had received.

Ablakwa also noted that journalists and bloggers were present during the arrival and payment process, with some reportedly capturing images of returnees counting their money.

He argued that the process was conducted openly and maintained that the ministry had not received complaints about missing envelopes or payments falling below the approved amount.

“For more than four months since the evacuation commenced, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received a single complaint,” the minister said.

He questioned why allegations of underpayment were emerging months after the exercise had begun, particularly when beneficiaries had reportedly been encouraged to verify their payments at the airport.

Media Reports Raise Questions About Payment Shortfalls

The minister’s comments follow a JoyNews report that at least three people contacted from the evacuation list claimed they received GH¢2,000 instead of the announced GH¢5,500 package.

The accounts have raised questions about whether the full amount reached every intended beneficiary.

While Ablakwa insists that all 1,964 evacuees were paid in full, the reported accounts of the individuals contacted by the media present a different version of events.

The absence of formal complaints to the ministry, as stated by the minister, does not by itself establish what each beneficiary received. Similarly, the reported accounts of a small number of returnees do not, on their own, establish that all or most evacuees were underpaid.

The differing accounts make it important to establish the payment records and determine whether any discrepancies occurred.

A reconciliation of official disbursement records with information from individual beneficiaries could help clarify the matter.

Ablakwa Defends Officials Involved in the Exercise

The Foreign Affairs Minister also defended the officials involved in managing the evacuation and distributing the allowances.

He expressed confidence in personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Finance Bureau, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and National Security, who were involved in aspects of the operation.

Although he acknowledged that he did not personally distribute the money, he maintained that he had confidence in the officials responsible for the process.

Ablakwa said he did not believe the officials would take advantage of Ghanaians who had experienced difficult and traumatic circumstances in South Africa.

He also described the reintegration and transportation package as an important form of support for citizens returning home after the xenophobic attacks.

The controversy, however, has placed renewed attention on the need for clear documentation and accountability whenever public funds are used to support citizens in distress.

Evacuation Costs Come Under Public Scrutiny

Beyond the individual payment allegations, the overall cost of the evacuation exercise has also attracted public attention.

According to figures previously presented by the ministry, the operation cost approximately GH¢49.72 million. The reported expenditure included transportation, accommodation, food, medical support and other logistical arrangements, alongside the reintegration and transportation allowances.

The reported GH¢10.8 million allocated to the allowances corresponds to the announced GH¢5,500 package for 1,964 evacuees.

However, the total amount recorded as disbursed does not independently establish how much each individual ultimately received.

Questions about public expenditure have therefore increased calls for clear records and transparent explanations of how the funds were managed.

The Minority in Parliament has also called for an independent audit of the evacuation expenditure, adding to demands for accountability surrounding the exercise.

An independent examination of the relevant financial records and beneficiary payment details could help establish whether the recorded expenditure matches the amounts received by returnees.

Ablakwa Says Criticism Will Not Discourage Him

Despite the criticism surrounding the evacuation payments, Ablakwa has insisted that the controversy will not weaken his commitment to protecting Ghanaians at home and abroad.

The minister said his priority remained the welfare, protection, dignity and rights of citizens, particularly those who find themselves in difficult circumstances outside the country.

He also suggested that allegations surrounding the payments could discourage efforts to assist Ghanaians who need urgent support abroad.

“But I give you one assurance that despite all the vilification, I remain fully committed to the welfare, the protection of the dignity and the rights of Ghanaians. I am not discouraged at all,” he said.

His comments underline his determination to continue the ministry’s consular and emergency assistance responsibilities despite the public debate over the evacuation.

Transparency Remains Central to the Debate

The disagreement over the South Africa evacuation payments raises an important question about how public authorities can demonstrate that assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries.

The ministry maintains that all evacuees received their full allowances and that no complaints were submitted during the period in question. Media reports, meanwhile, have presented accounts from some individuals who say they received less than the announced amount.

Resolving the discrepancy will require more than competing statements. Payment records, beneficiary confirmations and any available documentation could help establish what happened.

For now, Ablakwa has rejected the claims of widespread payment shortfalls and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Ghanaians.

The wider issue remains whether the available records can conclusively account for the allowances and address the concerns raised about the evacuation exercise.

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