Emmanuel Issah Abudu, Deputy National Youth Organiser hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Youth Organiser of the party’s USA Chapter, maintains that ensuring the safety and well-being of every Ghanaian during a crisis remains a non-negotiable duty of the state, regardless of where its citizens are located.
“Government must always be prepared to protect, evacuate and support Ghanaians who find themselves in difficult circumstances outside the country.”
Speaking on Rainbow Radio’s weekend morning show programme, Mr. Abudu stressed that decisions to bring citizens back home should never depend on whether the government expects financial support or private donations. Emergency action must instead be taken promptly whenever the lives or livelihoods of Ghanaians are threatened.
His comments follow the government’s decision to decline a reported GH¢20 million support offer from MTN Ghana for Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it could not accept the donation because adequate financial provisions had already been made for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration efforts.
“The safety of Ghanaian citizens must remain the government’s primary responsibility.”
Clarifying the context behind the refusal, Mr. Abudu suggested that the decision was likely influenced by questions surrounding the purpose of the proposed funds and the timing of MTN’s intervention.
“The decision could have been based on the fact that the money was intended to support evacuees whose needs the government had already made provisions to address.”
Rather than rejecting the gesture due to MTN’s corporate links to South Africa, the government’s stance reflected its existing capacity to handle the situation independently, ensuring that all evacuee needs were already fully covered.
By: Onokwafo Yaw Asiedu/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
