The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested full details and evidence from the Multimedia Group regarding allegations that Ghanaian evacuees from South Africa were shortchanged on their reintegration and transportation allowances.
The request follows claims made by Mr. Isaac Kofi Agyei, Head of Research at Multimedia Group, during Joy FM’s Newsfile programme. Mr. Agyei reported that three Ghanaian evacuees received only GH₵2,000 instead of the government-approved total sum of GH₵5,500.
He further alleged that approximately forty evacuees received a GH₵5,000 reintegration allowance but were denied their GH₵500 transportation grant. Additionally, he stated that payments were allegedly disbursed without corresponding signatures, yet the Ministry’s official records now contain signatures against those names.
In a official communication signed by Chief Director Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry expressed serious concern over the claims.
“The Ministry considers these allegations serious and deserving of thorough investigation, particularly as they raise concerns about the integrity of the disbursement process and may adversely affect the reputation of the Ministry and the dedicated officers responsible for administering and supervising the payments,” the statement read.
The Ministry noted that all allowances and integration packages were publicly announced prior to the evacuation exercise, emphasizing that it has not received a single complaint from any evacuee regarding shortfall in payments. It also expressed concern that the media house failed to contact officials to verify the allegations before broadcast.
“The emergence of these allegations approximately five months after the evacuation exercise commenced therefore warrants clarification and verification,” Ambassador Iddrisu stated. “It is also important to mention that your media house failed to contact the Ministry for verification of the outcome of your interaction with the above-mentioned evacuees”.
To facilitate a transparent inquiry, the Ministry has requested the Multimedia Group to provide the names, contact details, and relevant particulars of the affected individuals. Officials pledged to engage the individuals directly, review payment receipts, and investigate the claims objectively.
“The Ministry remains committed to transparency, accountability and the fair and impartial examination of the matters raised,” the statement concluded. “It trusts that your organisation will extend the necessary cooperation by providing the Ministry with the requested information, the basis of your publication to enable the inquiry to be conducted thoroughly and on the basis of verifiable facts”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
