Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says every child evacuated from South Africa received the same GH¢5,500 support package as adults, on the instruction of President John Dramani Mahama. He made the remarks on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 17, 2026, responding to Minority concerns over the GH¢49.7 million evacuation.
The package is made up of a GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance and a GH¢500 transport allowance paid to each returnee on arrival at the airport in Accra.
The Minister also challenged critics to name a single evacuee who was denied the allowance, describing claims of unaccounted funds as “propaganda”.
A total of 1,964 Ghanaians were brought home between May 27 and September 4, 2026, following renewed xenophobic attacks and intimidation of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Ablakwa defends GH¢5,500 allowance for evacuated children
The Minority in Parliament had raised concerns about minors appearing on the list of allowance beneficiaries.
“I stated clearly that on President Mahama’s instruction, all the children received the same amount,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He argued that children returning from South Africa need direct support to enrol in school and adjust to a different educational system in Ghana, rather than relying only on their parents or guardians.
Ablakwa challenges Minority to name evacuee denied allowance
Mr Ablakwa dismissed claims that some people on the evacuation list could not be traced, calling them propaganda.
He said he had been “looking for one Ghanaian to step forward” to say they did not receive the allowances after being evacuated, and none had done so.
“So what is this desperate attempt to create a scandal when there is none?” he asked.
He also said the Minority’s claims were “either pure mischief or a remarkable lack of understanding of the documents presented.”
GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation cost: the figures
The Ministry announced the total cost of the exercise on September 7, three days after the final group of evacuees arrived.
- Total cost: GH¢49,721,786
- Government funding: GH¢33,721,786
- Support from Engineers & Planners: GH¢16 million
- Flights, tickets, ground transport, feeding, accommodation and medical care: about GH¢38.84 million
- Reintegration and transport allowances: about GH¢10.80 million
- Number of evacuees: 1,964
- Allowance per evacuee: GH¢5,500 (GH¢5,000 reintegration + GH¢500 transport)
What the Minority is questioning
On October 11, the Minority, led by Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, called for an independent audit of the spending by a reputable accounting firm. GhanaTrends earlier reported on the Minority’s demand for an audit of the GH¢49.72m evacuation.
The Minority said its review of the Ministry’s records left about GH¢16.4 million needing explanation. It pointed to mismatches between payment registers and flight records, duplicate and blank entries, and 442 minors counted in the reintegration register.
The Minority’s figures are its own calculations and have not been established by any audit.
Documents submitted under Right to Information request
On September 18, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a report of more than 200 pages to Mr Ayeh following a Right to Information request. It included evacuees’ signatures and contact details.
The Ministry says it holds airline receipts from EgyptAir, Air Tanzania and Ethiopian Airlines, as well as boarding passes and a flight manifest listing all 1,964 names. Mr Ablakwa said no airline has disputed the passenger numbers.
The Majority in Parliament, through Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, has also rejected the Minority’s claims as “dubious political mischief.”
What it means for evacuees and their families
For families who returned with children, the Minister’s position confirms that each child was entitled to the full GH¢5,500, not a reduced share.
His challenge also places the burden on anyone who did not receive the allowance to come forward publicly.
What happens next
The Minority is pressing for an independent audit, while the Ministry has said the Auditor-General was invited to audit the exercise. The Majority has also asked the Attorney-General to order a forensic investigation into evacuations carried out under the previous NPP government.
Whether an independent audit is ordered remains to be seen.
Key details at a glance
- Ablakwa says children received the same GH¢5,500 as adults on President Mahama’s instruction.
- Package: GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance plus GH¢500 transport allowance.
- 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated from South Africa between May 27 and September 4, 2026.
- Total cost: GH¢49,721,786, including GH¢16 million from Engineers & Planners.
- Minority says about GH¢16.4 million needs explanation and wants an independent audit.
- Ministry submitted a 200-plus-page RTI report on September 18.
- Ablakwa spoke on JoyNews’ Newsfile on October 17, 2026.
FAQs
How much did each Ghanaian evacuee from South Africa receive?
Each evacuee received GH¢5,500: a GH¢5,000 reintegration allowance and a GH¢500 transport allowance paid on arrival in Accra.
Did children evacuated from South Africa get the allowance?
Yes. Mr Ablakwa says that on President Mahama’s instruction, all children received the same GH¢5,500 as adults.
How much did the South Africa evacuation cost Ghana?
The Foreign Affairs Ministry puts the total cost at GH¢49,721,786, with GH¢33.72 million from government and GH¢16 million from Engineers & Planners.
Mr Ablakwa insists the GH¢49.7 million evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa is fully accounted for and that giving children the full GH¢5,500 package was a deliberate presidential directive, while the Minority continues to demand an independent audit of about GH¢16.4 million it says needs explanation.
