The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised fresh concerns over potential financial irregularities surrounding the payment of allowances to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa, alleging stark inconsistencies in official disbursement records.
Addressing journalists at a news conference on Sunday, October 18, 2026, NPP Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye insisted that official documentation fails to back assertions that every beneficiary received the complete GH¢5,500 package.
According to Mr Aboagye, a detailed examination of documents submitted by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed significant discrepancies between beneficiary headcounts and the corresponding signatures.
He highlighted that while the Ministry maintains all 1,964 repatriated citizens were given GH¢5,500 each, official sign-off sheets indicate that only 1,001 individuals signed for their GH¢500 transport allocation.
“The signatures do not match the headcounts. The minister says all 1,964 evacuees , received GH¢5,500. His own signed sheet, which is submitted, carried only about 1,001 signatures for the GH¢500 transport allowance, and 1,508 recorded as receiving only for just the GH¢500.
“Match, name by name, only 824 people appear on both lists. It means, ladies and gentlemen, when our compatriots arrive in Ghana they go to desk one, sign, pick up GH¢5,00 in an envelope, go to desk two, sign, pick up GH¢500 in an envelope, has a total of GH¢5,500. Now, this is what is sad. The document that the foreign affairs minister himself gave to us when you analyse the data line by line, we realised that the people who signed for and collected the GH¢500 are 1,001 people. It means that about 963 of the 1,964 did not receive GH¢500,” he said.
The NPP spokesman maintained that the numerical gaps cast serious doubt over whether the full allowances reached all intended recipients.
The opposition’s claims follow a direct challenge issued by Mr Ablakwa, who urged the Minority in Parliament to present any evacuee who had failed to receive their full entitlement. The Minister previously dismissed allegations of mismanaged funds, characterizing them as a manufactured political scandal.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana