The Minority in Parliament is demanding a detailed account of the GH¢49 million reportedly spent by the government to evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
The Minority says the figure announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is too broad and does not provide sufficient details on how the money was spent.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and MP for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Agyei Ayeh, said the Minister merely lumped the various expenses together and provided a round figure, which he argued cannot be considered a proper account.
The Minority is therefore calling for a reconciliation of the number of Ghanaians evacuated, reportedly 1,964, and the corresponding expenditure.
It is also seeking details of the procurement processes used for both chartered and commercial flights, including the amounts paid so far.
While commending the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for what it described as a swift response to the situation, the Minority said transparency must accompany the evacuation exercise.
Nana Asafo-Agyei Ayeh said Ghanaians deserve a comprehensive breakdown showing the flights used, the number of evacuees in each batch, the specific costs involved and the procurement procedures followed, backed by relevant documentation.
He also raised questions about the role of partners who contributed to the evacuation, particularly seeking clarity on how the GH¢16 million reportedly provided by businessman Ibrahim Mahama was utilised.
The Minority is consequently demanding greater transparency from the government on the GH¢49 million expenditure and a detailed explanation of all financial and logistical arrangements surrounding the evacuation.
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