The Minority in Parliament on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, called on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to resign immediately over alleged irregularities in the GH¢49.72 million evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, made the demand at a press conference in Accra. He said the minister’s handling of the exercise “has brought his high office into disrepute.”
The evacuation ran from May 27 to September 4, 2026, amid renewed xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa. The Minority says documents released by the Foreign Affairs Ministry under a Right to Information request show gaps that need an independent investigation.
Ablakwa has denied any financial impropriety and maintains that the evacuation expenditure is fully accounted for.
Minority’s four demands over the South Africa evacuation
Jinapor, the MP for Damongo, set out four demands on behalf of the Minority caucus:
- A comprehensive independent audit of the evacuation by an internationally reputable accounting firm.
- Ablakwa’s immediate resignation, citing Section 2.1(j) of President Mahama’s 2025 Code of Conduct and Ethics for Political Appointees.
- If he refuses, President John Dramani Mahama should terminate his appointment under Article 81(a) of the 1992 Constitution.
- If he stays in office, the Minority will consider a censure motion under Article 82 of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.
“The president must demonstrate that the standards he sets for his appointees have consequences,” Jinapor said, according to 3News.
Alleged irregularities in evacuation payment records
The Minority says its review of the ministry’s documents found duplicate entries, payment records without signatures and expenditure without supporting receipts.
It also pointed to alleged gaps in flight records and inconsistencies in payment registers, and questioned reintegration and transport allowances paid to returnees.
“The evidence before us reveals grave financial irregularities, compelling misapplications of public funds and possible fraud,” Jinapor said. He described the arrangement as one that “smacks of a grand, well-thought-through, well-calculated corruption scheme to siphon public funds.”
Deputy Ranking Member Nana Asafo-Agyei Ayeh said the caucus was “not against the evacuation” but warned that a humanitarian exercise must not become a conduit to misuse public money.
GH¢5,500 evacuee allowance at the centre of the row
Each evacuee was promised a support package of GH¢5,500. Some returnees say they received the full amount, while others say they got less than what was recorded against their names.
The Minority had earlier questioned about GH¢16.4 million of the spending when it first called for an audit, as GhanaTrends reported in Minority Demands Audit of GH¢49.72m South Africa Evacuation.
South Africa evacuation in figures
- Total cost announced: GH¢49.72 million (GH¢49,721,786)
- Ghanaians evacuated: 1,964
- Evacuation period: May 27 – September 4, 2026
- Support package per evacuee: GH¢5,500
- Minority press conference: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Ablakwa’s response and the coaching claims
Ablakwa has rejected claims of wrongdoing and has himself called for an independent audit of all evacuation exercises carried out since 2017, including the South Africa operation.
On Monday, October 26, a group of evacuees held a press conference defending the government’s support and alleging that some opposition figures tried to coach them to speak against the government.
Jinapor denied this. “At no point in time did the Minority engage, pay, and/or convince any of these people,” he said, adding that some evacuees spoke out after noticing gaps between their entitlements and what they received.
What the resignation call means for evacuees and taxpayers
For the returnees, the dispute keeps attention on whether every person listed actually received the promised GH¢5,500 allowance.
For taxpayers, an independent audit would show how the GH¢49.72 million was spent, including the charter flight, allowances and logistics. Neither side has yet published a full independent account.
What happens next
The ball is now in the minister’s and the President’s court. Ablakwa has not resigned, and the Presidency has not responded publicly to the Minority’s call.
If he remains in office, the Minority says it will consider initiating a censure motion in Parliament. Under Article 82, a censure vote needs the support of at least two-thirds of all MPs to pass, which makes it difficult for a minority caucus to succeed on its own.
Sneak peek at the Story
- The Minority wants Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to resign immediately.
- The demand concerns the GH¢49.72 million evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
- Samuel Abu Jinapor led the press conference in Accra on October 27, 2026.
- Alleged issues include duplicate entries, unsigned payment records and missing receipts.
- The Minority wants an audit by an internationally reputable accounting firm.
- A censure motion under Article 82 is being considered if Ablakwa stays.
- Ablakwa denies wrongdoing and backs an audit of all evacuations since 2017.
FAQs: Minority Demands Ablakwa’s Resignation Over GH¢49.72m South Africa Evacuation, Threatens Censure Vote
Why does the Minority want Ablakwa to resign?
The Minority says documents on the GH¢49.72 million South Africa evacuation show duplicate entries, unsigned payments and missing receipts, which it says point to possible misuse of public funds.
How much did the South Africa evacuation cost Ghana?
The Foreign Affairs Ministry put the cost at GH¢49,721,786 for evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians between May 27 and September 4, 2026.
Can Parliament remove Ablakwa as Foreign Minister?
Parliament can pass a vote of censure under Article 82 of the Constitution, but it requires at least two-thirds of all MPs. Only the President can revoke a minister’s appointment.
The Minority has escalated its fight over the South Africa evacuation from an audit request to a call for Ablakwa’s resignation, a possible dismissal by President Mahama and a censure vote. Ablakwa insists the GH¢49.72 million is accounted for and supports an audit, setting up a fresh political clash over how the money was spent.
