No complaints received over South Africa evacuation payments – Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has denied claims that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received less than the GH¢5,500 support package announced by the government, insisting that his ministry has not received any formal complaints over alleged payment shortfalls.

Mr Ablakwa said all 1,000 Ghanaians on the evacuation list, including minors, received the full package, comprising GH¢5,000 in reintegration assistance and GH¢500 for transportation.

He made the remarks while addressing members of the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, Canada, during an official working visit.

The minister questioned reports that some evacuees had received less than the announced amount, arguing that the payments were made transparently and that no beneficiary had formally reported a shortfall to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His comments follow reports that at least three people contacted from the evacuation list claimed they received GH¢2,000 instead of the GH¢5,500 announced by the government.

Mr Ablakwa maintained that the ministry had not received complaints about missing payments or beneficiaries receiving less than the stipulated amount since the evacuation exercise began more than four months ago.

He also said no concerns had been raised at the airport regarding missing envelopes or payments that fell short of the announced package.

“For more than four months since the evacuation commenced, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received a single complaint. We didn’t receive a complaint at the airport that an envelope has not been received or an amount is not up to the figure. Up until this day, there has been no complaint by any of the Ghanaians evacuated,” he said.

The minister's position contrasts with the accounts attributed to at least three people who reportedly said they received GH¢2,000 rather than the full GH¢5,500.

The reported discrepancies have raised questions about the distribution of the funds, although the information provided does not establish whether the alleged shortfalls have been independently verified.

Mr Ablakwa described the financial assistance as unprecedented in Ghana’s evacuation exercises, arguing that previous operations had not included comparable reintegration support and transportation allowances.

He said the government’s intervention was intended to support evacuated citizens as they returned home and began the process of rebuilding their lives.

Despite criticism over the handling of the payments, the minister reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the welfare and rights of Ghanaians living 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 added.

Meanwhile, the Minority has called for an independent audit of the GH¢49.72 million reportedly spent by the government on the evacuation exercise and associated support.

The call comes amid questions about whether all intended beneficiaries received the full amounts announced by the government.

An independent audit could help establish how the funds were disbursed, verify payments made to beneficiaries and determine whether any discrepancies occurred during the exercise.

The competing claims have placed renewed attention on the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public funds allocated to support Ghanaians evacuated from abroad.