The Minority Caucus in Parliament has threatened to snub a closed-door meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to brief Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.

In a statement, the Minority said ahead of the scheduled meeting on Wednesday, September 16, it had formally requested a detailed and documented breakdown of the government’s expenditure under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), on August 17.

The request, received by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on August 25, sought expenditure details and supporting records covering flights, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services, reintegration payments and procurement.

The Minority also requested information on the sources of funding and the identities and contributions of private partners involved in the exercise.

According to the statement, the Foreign Affairs Minister announced on September 7 that almost GH¢50 million had been spent on the evacuation and reintegration of 1,964 Ghanaians.

However, the Minority says it has not yet received the itemised account and supporting documentation required to verify the expenditure.

“To date, however, the Ministry has not furnished the Minority with the itemised account and supporting documentation requested under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), to enable Parliament and the public to ascertain how these funds were actually expended.”

Consequently, the Minority says it will not participate in the meeting until the Foreign Affairs Ministry provides documents detailing how the money was spent.

The Minority said it supported the evacuation because of the danger posed by the xenophobic attacks to the lives and safety of Ghanaians in South Africa. However, it stressed that such support should not be used as a basis to avoid accountability for the public funds spent on the exercise.

“From the outset, the Minority supported Government’s decision to evacuate Ghanaian citizens whose safety and welfare had been threatened by the unfortunate xenophobic attacks in South Africa.”

“That support, however, cannot dispense with the equally important obligation of Government to account fully and transparently for the expenditure of public funds.”