Questions have emerged over the GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, following a JoyNews Research investigation that identified discrepancies in payment records, duplicate names and expenditure for which supporting receipts were unavailable.
The investigation, published on October 24, 2026 and followed by further findings on October 26, also reported that some evacuees allegedly received less than the GH¢5,500 package announced by the government, comprising a GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance and GH¢500 transport allowance.
A group representing the returnees has also disputed claims of underpayment, insisting that members received the announced package.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria has acknowledged clerical errors affecting the recorded dates of birth of 15 evacuees, explaining that passport expiry dates were mistakenly entered as birth dates.
The controversy has prompted the Minority in Parliament to renew calls for an independent audit of the evacuation expenditure and payment records.
The government has said the exercise, conducted between May 27 and September 4, 2026 cost GH¢49,721,786 comprising GH¢33,721,786 in direct government funding and GH¢16 million contributed by Engineers and Planners.
First of all, the evacuation of citizens from South Africa following xenophobic attacks was a humanitarian responsibility. But the controversy surrounding the GH¢49.72 million spent on the exercise raises questions that cannot be settled by political accusations, official assurances or public relations statements. An independent audit is now necessary to establish the facts.
The report revealed discrepancies in payment records, duplicate names, questionable signatures and expenditure for which supporting receipts were unavailable. It has also reported claims by some evacuees that they received less than the GH¢5,500 package announced by the government. These findings deserve serious attention, particularly because public money and the welfare of vulnerable citizens are involved.
However, discrepancies in documents are not, on their own, proof of theft or corruption. Administrative errors can occur and incomplete documentation does not automatically establish that money has been misappropriated.
These competing accounts make an impartial examination even more important. Neither the Minister’s assurances nor the allegations against his Ministry should be accepted as conclusive without verification. Equally, the matter should not be reduced to a contest between the governing party and the opposition.
There is a precedent worth recalling. In January 2024, the Akufo-Addo administration commissioned KPMG to audit transactions between the Ghana Revenue Authority and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) following public controversy over the contract. The audit produced findings and recommendations that informed subsequent government directives. The decision to commission that audit demonstrated the value of seeking independent scrutiny when questions arise over public transactions.
The same principle should apply to the South Africa evacuation. Our position is straightforward: where credible questions have been raised about public expenditure, an independent audit is the appropriate way to establish what happened.
We, therefore, call for a comprehensive audit by KPMG Ghana, Deloitte Ghana, PwC Ghana, Ernst & Young or another reputable firm that can demonstrate its independence from the parties involved. The Auditor-General should also be consulted to ensure that the process complements existing public accountability mechanisms.
The audit must examine the complete expenditure, including flights, accommodation, feeding, transport, medical care and other logistical costs. It should reconcile passenger manifests with travel records, compare payment registers with verified beneficiary information, investigate duplicate entries and questionable signatures, and establish whether the announced allowances reached the intended recipients.
The GH¢16 million contribution from Engineers and Planners must also be traced through the relevant financial records to establish how the donation was received, applied and accounted for. Missing receipts and other documentary gaps should be explained with verifiable evidence rather than assumptions.
Crucially, the auditors should independently contact a representative sample of evacuees and compare their accounts with payment records and other available evidence. Their final report should be made public, subject to legitimate privacy restrictions.
Where the evidence establishes financial misconduct, falsification or negligence, the responsible persons must face appropriate administrative, disciplinary or legal consequences. Any eligible returnee found to have been short-changed must receive what is due. Conversely, if the allegations cannot be substantiated and the expenditure is properly accounted for, the findings should clear the record.
The demand for accountability must not become a tool for political persecution, just as humanitarian service must not become a shield against scrutiny.
Ghanaians deserve answers, not endless accusations. Let an independent audit settle the matter, and let the evidence determine what happens next.
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