A representative of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks, Michael Addo, has rejected claims by the Minority that some returnees were denied portions of the GH¢5,500 support package announced by the government.
Addressing the media on Monday, October 26, Mr Addo insisted that all evacuated Ghanaians received the full package, comprising GH¢5,000 in reintegration assistance and GH¢500 for transportation, on their respective dates of arrival in the country.
He dismissed claims that some returnees received only the transportation allowance while others were paid only the reintegration support, describing the allegations as false.
Also read: Mahama arrives in Moscow for Russia–Africa Summit, Putin talks
“The claims that some people received only the GH¢500 transportation allowance while others received only the GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance are all false. We want to state for the record that we all received the package on our respective dates of arrival,” he said.
Mr Addo also alleged that some members of the evacuee group had received calls and coaching to make statements against the government over the support package.
“We are aware that some members of our group have received calls and coaching to speak against the government, but our conscience will not allow us to do so, even if we support the opposition party rather than the government of the day,” he said.
He urged the public to focus on the facts rather than allow partisan interests to influence discussions about the evacuation exercise.
“It is only fair that we state the facts and refuse to allow petty politics to make us liars,” he added.
The evacuees’ comments come amid controversy over the government’s expenditure on the evacuation exercise. The government reportedly spent GH¢49,721,786 to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa.
The Minority has raised concerns about the total expenditure and alleged loopholes in the accounting of the funds, prompting further scrutiny of the exercise and the support provided to the returnees.
CNR