The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is holding its “Yɛgye Yɛ Sika” (“We want our money”) demonstration in Accra today, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to demand the dismissal of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over the GH¢49.7 million spent evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa and the issuance of diplomatic and service passports.
Protesters were told to assemble from 6:00am at Villaggio, near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange opposite Accra Mall. The march is to stop at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before ending at Jubilee House.
The protest was announced at a press conference on Thursday, October 29, by the party’s National Youth Organiser, Abanga Fuseini Yakubu, who called on youth organisers, constituency and polling station executives, women’s groups and other supporters to turn out.
The NPP’s allegations against the minister have not been established and remain the subject of calls for investigation. Mr Ablakwa has maintained that all documents are available and that no money is missing.
NPP demo route: Tetteh Quarshie to Jubilee House
- Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Assembly time: 6:00am
- Assembly point: Villaggio, near Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, opposite Accra Mall
- First stop: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- End point: Jubilee House
Mr Yakubu urged participants to keep the march peaceful and within the law. “Our strength is in our numbers and our discipline, never in disorder,” he said.
What the NPP is demanding from Ablakwa and government
The party has listed several demands it wants met:
- The immediate dismissal of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
- Investigations by the Attorney-General and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and prosecution of any officials found culpable.
- Publication of original invoices, contracts and proof of payment for all charter flights used in the evacuation.
- Release of the full passenger manifest and beneficiary list to verify the reported 1,964 evacuees.
- An independent audit of total evacuation spending.
- Publication of all diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025, with each recipient’s qualifying position and approving authority, and cancellation of any issued improperly.
- The resignation of the Minister for Youth and Sports over a separate visa controversy that preceded the resignation of the National Sports Authority’s chief executive.
“The public money belongs to the people, so do the official documents of the Republic,” Mr Yakubu said, adding that ministers hold them in trust.
How the GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation money was spent
At a media briefing in September, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that government spent GH¢49,721,786 evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa after xenophobic attacks, during which two Ghanaians died. Graphic Online’s report on the ministry’s breakdown and other outlets gave these figures:
- Total cost: GH¢49.72 million
- Flights, ground transport, feeding, hotels and medical care: about GH¢38.84 million
- Reintegration and transport allowances: about GH¢10.8 million (GH¢5,500 per returnee — GH¢5,000 grant plus GH¢500 transport)
- Repatriation of two bodies: GH¢84,274
- Government funding: GH¢33.72 million
- Contribution from Engineers and Planners: GH¢16 million
The minister said at the time that the full amount had been settled with no outstanding liabilities.
Why the NPP says the charter flights were overpriced
On October 19, NPP National Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye claimed documents released by the minister showed each of the three charter flights cost US$750,000, or US$2.25 million in total.
He said the party’s checks put comparable aircraft at US$180,000 to US$300,000 per flight, meaning the three flights should have cost no more than US$900,000 — a gap of at least US$1.35 million. The party also says charters made up GH¢27.18 million, about 55% of total spending.
The Minority in Parliament has separately demanded Ablakwa’s resignation and threatened a censure vote over the evacuation spending.
BACKGROUND: Second Batch of Ghanaians Arrive from South Africa, politics or NDC deserves Praise?
What the protest means for Accra commuters
With marchers gathering at Tetteh Quarshie and moving towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Jubilee House, commuters using the Tetteh Quarshie, Liberation Road and Airport areas may face slow movement during the morning. Motorists are advised to plan alternative routes and follow traffic updates.
What happens next after the Yɛgye Yɛ Sika march
The NPP says it will keep demanding answers until its concerns are addressed. Speaking on Asempa FM on Monday, Mr Yakubu questioned why the minister referred the matter to the Auditor-General rather than an independent committee, asking, “Can you be a judge in your own case?”
Any petition presented at Jubilee House and a response from government or the Foreign Affairs Ministry are expected to shape the next stage of the dispute, alongside the Minority’s threatened censure motion as Parliament resumes.
NPP ‘Yɛgye Yɛ Sika’ Demo Today: Marchers Head to Jubilee House Over GH¢49.7m South Africa Evacuation – Quick Summary
- NPP’s “Yɛgye Yɛ Sika” demo is taking place today, Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Assembly from 6:00am at Villaggio, near Tetteh Quarshie Interchange.
- Route passes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ends at Jubilee House.
- Main demand: dismissal of Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
- Evacuation cost: GH¢49.72 million for 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
- NPP claims each of three charter flights cost US$750,000.
- Ablakwa says all documents are available and no money is missing.
FAQs – NPP ‘Yɛgye Yɛ Sika’ Demo Today: Marchers Head to Jubilee House Over GH¢49.7m South Africa Evacuation
What is the NPP Yɛgye Yɛ Sika demonstration about?
It is an NPP protest demanding the dismissal of Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and investigations into the GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation spending and the issuance of diplomatic and service passports.
Where is the NPP demo starting and ending today?
The march starts at Villaggio near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, stops at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ends at Jubilee House.
How much did Ghana spend on the South Africa evacuation?
Mr Ablakwa said government spent GH¢49,721,786 to evacuate 1,964 Ghanaians, with GH¢16 million of that contributed by Engineers and Planners.
Today’s “Yɛgye Yɛ Sika” march takes the NPP’s campaign over the South Africa evacuation and passport issuance from press conferences to the streets, as the party presses for Mr Ablakwa’s removal and full disclosure of invoices, contracts and passenger lists, while the minister insists the exercise was fully accounted for.
