The Minority Caucus in Parliament has demanded the immediate resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over alleged financial irregularities in the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
According to the Caucus, fresh findings from its examination of documents released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have deepened concerns about the management of the evacuation exercise, which reportedly cost GH¢49,721,786.
The Caucus also called on President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss Mr Ablakwa if he fails to resign, warning that it could even initiate parliamentary proceedings for a vote of censure against the minister.
Also read: Bagbin calls for media to be elevated to same level as three Arms of Government
At a press conference on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, addressed by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, and his Deputy, Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Minority said its demands follow discrepancies identified in payment registers, alleged duplicate entries, gaps in supporting documents, and expenditure that requires further explanation.
According to Mr. Jinapor, the Minority supported the evacuation exercise because of threats to the safety of Ghanaians in South Africa but expected the government to ensure that public funds committed to the operation are properly used and accounted for.
According to him, documents they received after an RTI request, compared to the records and figures released by the Minister to the media, raise questions about whether the recorded payments accurately reflect the amounts received by the intended beneficiaries.
He maintained that the findings raise serious concerns about the use of taxpayers’ money and reinforced his call for an independent audit of the evacuation exercise.
Jinapor accused Mr Ablakwa of supervising and overseeing a fraudulent evacuation exercise and misapplication of public funds.
He rejected allegations that the Caucus had paid or persuaded some evacuees to speak against the government.
He said, “Some evacuees decided to speak voluntarily after learning of discrepancies between what they reportedly received and what the ministry’s records indicated they had been paid.”
The Minority also questioned reports that the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria had warned evacuees against speaking to the media about the matter.
It challenged the Ministry and the High Commission to explain their handling of the situation, arguing that transparency is necessary to resolve the controversy.
Mr. Jinapor outlined four key demands in response to the alleged irregularities.
First, he reiterated the Minority’s call for a comprehensive independent audit of the evacuation exercise by an internationally reputable accounting firm with a proven track record and unquestionable integrity.
Second, he demanded Mr Ablakwa’s immediate resignation, arguing that his handling of the exercise has brought his office into disrepute.
He cited section 2.1(j) of President Mahama’s 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees, which he said requires a minister to resign where their actions or leadership resulted in significant failure, corruption, or a breach of public trust.
Third, the Ranking called on President Mahama to terminate the minister’s appointment under Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution if he refuses to step down.
Finally, he warned that the Caucus would consider initiating a vote of censure against Mr. Ablakwa under Article 82 of the Constitution and Order 138 of Parliament’s Standing Orders if he remains in office.
According to him, the proposed measures are necessary to establish accountability and restore public confidence in the management of public resources.
The Deputy Ranking Member and MP for Bosome-Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, who outlined the detailed findings, argued the need for the Minister to step aside as the investigation proceeds.
He accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of introducing new documents into the records on the evacuation, raising concerns about the credibility of the accounting process.
Mr Ayeh said the Minority has compared the 200-page document presented by Okudzeto Ablakwa with the separate 300-page document the Minister submitted to Multimedia, which he said was not presented to Parliament.
He explained that the Minority obtained the 300-page document and reconciled the figures against the earlier records, leading to what he described as significant discrepancies and the introduction of documents that did not conform to the original recording format.
According to Mr Ayeh, the original records contained nine columns for each entry among approximately 5,000 documents, while the newer records contained only three columns. He also cited what he described as similar handwriting and signatures, as well as names appearing repeatedly across three or four different batches of documents.
“The new 300-page document is even worse than the 200-page document he brought,” Mr Ayeh said, alleging that the discrepancies raise serious questions about the Ministry’s handling of the evacuation records.
He alleged that the discrepancies are simple attempts to conceal information, insisting that the matter requires investigation by the appropriate authorities.
Mr Ayeh alleged that the Minister has been contacting individuals to obtain receipts and invoices to address issues raised by the Minority.
The Deputy Ranking argued that Mr Ablakwa’s continued stay in office could undermine efforts to secure transparency and accountability, insisting that any audit conducted while the Minister remains in office would lack credibility.
He therefore reiterated the Minority’s call for the Minister to step aside and submit himself to an independent inquiry into the South Africa evacuation expenditure.