National Democratic Congress (NDC) communicator Hajia Alimatu Issahak has urged the Minority in Parliament to exercise patience over concerns about the government’s expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
She says the government is prepared to respond to questions raised by the Minority once the evacuation process is fully concluded.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Hajia Alimatu Issahak said the last flight carrying evacuated Ghanaians arrived in the country last Thursday, suggesting that the Minority should allow the government time to compile and provide the necessary information.
“The last flight came last Thursday, so the Minority should relax. The questions they are asking, the appropriate responses will be provided,” she said.
Her comments come after the Minority demanded a detailed breakdown of the reported GH¢49.7 million spent by government to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
The Minority has questioned the evacuation figures and expenditure and has invoked the Right to Information (RTI) process to obtain supporting documents.
She further accused the NPP of becoming particularly vocal about accountability after moving into opposition but insisted that the NDC government has nothing to hide.
“We know the NPP suddenly knows about accountability after going into opposition but we in the NDC as part of our reset agenda have nothing to hide and will provide responses to all their concerns,” she said.
Hajia Alimatu Issahak cautioned against rushing to conclusions over the evacuation expenditure, stressing that both the country’s interests and accountability remained important to the government.
“We should not be in a haste to condemn or collapse. The country is important to us likewise accountability, because our integrity is important to us,” she added.
The Minority’s concerns follow Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s disclosure that government spent GH¢49.7 million to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa amid the xenophobic attacks.
The Minority has since demanded documentary evidence to support both the number of evacuees and the expenditure, while government has maintained that the appropriate information will be provided.
Also read:
