Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has rejected allegations that some Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa received less than their approved financial allowances, insisting that all 1,964 beneficiaries were paid their full entitlements.
The minister said each evacuee, including minors, received a GH¢5,000 reintegration package and a GH¢500 transportation allowance, bringing the total payment to GH¢5,500 per person.
Mr Ablakwa stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not received any formal complaints about underpayment during the more than four months since the evacuation exercise began.
His comments follow a JoyNews report in which at least three people contacted from the evacuation list alleged that they received GH¢2,000 instead of the announced GH¢5,500.
Ablakwa Questions Claims of GH¢2,000 Payments
Responding to the allegations, Mr Ablakwa questioned why the claims were emerging months after the evacuees had reportedly received their money upon arrival in Ghana.
He explained that beneficiaries had been informed about the approved allowances before leaving South Africa, with the same information communicated to them upon arrival.
According to the minister, each evacuee received two envelopes at the airport and was encouraged to open them and verify the amounts. He added that journalists and bloggers were present during the distribution, with some recording beneficiaries counting their money.
Although he acknowledged that he did not personally distribute the funds, Mr Ablakwa expressed confidence in the officials responsible for the payments, including personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Finance Bureau, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and National Security.
Foreign Affairs Minister Defends Evacuation Support
Speaking to the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, Canada, during an official working visit, Mr Ablakwa suggested that the allegations could undermine efforts to assist citizens facing danger abroad.
He described the financial assistance as a significant intervention, noting that the evacuation exercise provided both reintegration support and transportation allowances to returning Ghanaians.
The minister maintained that the government remained committed to protecting Ghanaian citizens overseas, particularly those experiencing difficult or dangerous circumstances.
He also pledged to continue supporting Ghanaians in distress abroad despite the criticism surrounding the evacuation payments.
Ablakwa Reaffirms Commitment to Ghanaians Abroad
Mr Ablakwa reiterated his commitment to safeguarding the welfare, dignity and rights of Ghanaian citizens wherever they find themselves.
While the minister maintains that all 1,964 evacuees received their full GH¢5,500 entitlement, the reported allegations of underpayment have raised questions about the distribution of the funds.
The issue highlights the importance of transparency, accountability and effective complaint mechanisms in government-funded evacuation exercises and financial assistance programmes.
Source: newsthemegh.com